Probably the last full week of baseball (at least scheduled). And the heat wave is over. I can tell you that watching a game in the upper 80s is much better than watching a game in the upper 90s.
Game #104. Ventured up to Reading on a Monday for a game that I probably would have skipped otherwise due to the weather. Why did I go? A Ryan Howard Pagoda bobblehead. While standing in line a nice little thunderstorm blew through, I was soaked from the chest down, good times. Dried off a little after the rain passed but my shirt was still damp the next morning. Fortunately my shoes weren’t. Tom Wilson started for the Rumble Ponies against JoJo Romero for the Fightins’. The first 5 innings were played at a record pace, lots of swinging at the first pitch and easy outs and one pretty nice catch by Reading rightfielder Raul Rivas making a leaping catch and slamming into the wall. That could be a Kevy nominee! Binghamton struck first in the 6th with 2 runs. They added another in the 8th. Reading struck back for 2 but couldn’t tie the game. I wasn’t there for that, the heavens opened again and I was gone. Binghamton wins 3-2.
Game #105. Back to the state capitol of New Jersey to pick up a Gleyber Torres bobblehead. A Delorean passed me on the way up US 1. It looked like it was in bad shape but it was flying, but it still needed roads where it was going. As a bonus as well their game on Monday was rained out so I got a doubleheader! That precluded a stop at Vault Brewing for a beer but I’ll be back next week for the Aaron Judge bobblehead so I can visit then. First, a major quibble. The first game started at 5:30, nothing wrong with that, almost standard procedure for a double dip in the minors. The gates did not open to the public until 6. Why? Apparently so they would not change the schedule so no one would be confused about getting the bobblehead and complain despite the fact that there were about 300 people in line for a giveaway of 1,500. Well they got lots of complaints and I found out it was the GM’s call. I think he’s overthinking it and I do feel it is a bit of a slap in the face to buy a ticket for the game and have to stand outside while it is being played.
Thanks to that I missed most of the action. Trenton starter Albert Abreu gave up a run to the Ducks and was poised to give up more when he was pulled due to injury. His relief James Reeves wiggled out of the jam. Akron starer Eli Morgan gave up 2 runs in the 1st including a leadoff homer by Hoy Jun Park. Outside of Trenton plating an insurance run late in the game that was all of the action. Very few hits and baserunners and it made the rest of the game fly and that was a good thing. Trenton wins 3-1.
Game #106. The sky began to drip but since the first game was played quickly I decided to stick around for some of this game. Wasn’t even 8:00 yet so why not? It had been dripping all day too. Rony Garcia started for the Thunder and before his half inning was complete the skies were growing ominous and the dripping got a bit steadier. Didn’t bother sticking around to see Rubber Duck starter Adam Scott, the rain started falling and I left. It only got heavier too. They did wind up getting this one finished though with Akron winning 6-0. No delay either, it rained pretty hard for a bit too but it doesn’t look like the tarp ever made it onto the field.
Did not got to Frederick on Wednesday. After cutting grass I took advantage of a really nice July day to try to go down to the Amateur Disc Golf World Championships being held in York County. It would have been in a semi professional capacity but world championship events don’t get to York County that often. Made a stop along the way to put the flowers back on my grandparent’s graves since grave cleanup was finished and when I got back in the car to leave it wouldn’t start. Dead battery. Apparently batteries in VW’s can die just like that. So, I have a new battery now but considering I was getting a message that the pin in the steering column was damaged I can’t complain too much since I figured that would cost me a heck of a lot more. Wasn’t going to make it to Frederick anyway, the person I was going with had to work for the Revolution since they played a day doubleheader today and wouldn’t be out in time, so I had a nice night at home instead.
Game #107 Team #24 off of the board as I went down to DC to watch them take on the Rockies. I like these Thursday day games. I can get out of town after traffic has died down a bit (not that that matters in DC much) and get back home at a reasonable hour too. Jeff Hoffman went for the Rockies against Max Scherzer for the Nats. This one looked like it should be all Nats and Scherzer was dominant for the third 3 innings but the Rockies got to him in the 4th. He only made it through 5, unusual for him. Hoffman wasn’t much better but wiggled out of trouble until the 5th when Anthony Rendon got Scherzer off of the hook with a 3-run shot. But the Rockies turned right around with Ryan McMahon hitting a 2-run bomb off of Matt Grace. The Nats came right back to take the lead, thanks to a double steal in which the ball never left the pitcher’s hand. All the Nats pen had to do was hold the lead but they didn’t. Former Nat Ian Desmond hit a 2-run shot off of Fernando Rodney, who was pitching in his 3rd game in 2 days. Colorado wins this 8-7.
Oh, the Secret Service was at the game and they had The Beast there. That’s the president’s limo for everyone who does not know what that is. I figured it would have tinted windows so no one could see in. Maybe that is a show model…
Game #108. Down to Frederick to pick up a Nick Markakis bobblehead. Stopped at the Battlefield Brew Works for a cold one before hopping onto 15. One of my favorite stops, it’s in a barn that was used as a Confederate field hospital during the battle. D.L. Hall started for the Keys against Nick Raquet for the P-Nats. This started well for the Keys though P-Nats shortstop Gilbert Lara had a Kevy nominee defensive play in the 2nd when he did his best Derek Jeter impression to nail Patrick Dorrian at first. The next batter, Will Robertson hit a solo shot to put the Keys on the board. Dorrian got his revenge with a 2-run shot later. Hall took a no-no into the 5th but Lara broke it up with a single and the shutout was lost the following inning. Then the Key bullpen snatched defeat from the jaws of victory once again giving up 3 runs in the 8th. Potomac wins 5-4.
Straight Cash Homey sighting. A fan had a Chris Ray t-shirt jersey on. Yep, I doubt anyone other than hardcore Oriole fans know who he is.
Game #109. Last trip to Altoona for the year to pick up a Kevin Kramer/Kevin Newman Seinfeld themed bobblehead. It is always sad when you make your final trip for the year to a place that you like. I just wish this would be about 30 minutes closer, I’d be there much more often. Pregame beer at Robin Hood outside of Bellefonte. Alfred Gutierrez started for the Squirrels against Beau Sulser for the Curve. Sulser was good but he’s a career reliever and he did seem to be running out of gas by the end of his run. Altoona had plated 3 off of Gutierrez and while Austin Coley gave one back to the Squirrels I didn’t feel bad about leaving at stretch time. It is a long drive home. Well, the Altoona pen imploded against the Flying Squirrels, who have the worst team batting average in the Eastern League (and perhaps the minors as well) and the game went to extras. Richmond wins 6-5. Didn’t know about that until I got home, I lost the radio signal in the middle of the 8th but I picked up the Buffalo Bison radio signal clear as a bell. Wound up listening to their game on the drive home until I could pick up my local stations. Go figure, the Buffalo Bison!
Game #110. Team #25 off of the board as I went back to DC to watch the Nats play the Dodgers in what I figured would be a nice, quick pitcher’s duel. Stephen Strasburg went for the Nats against Walker Buehler (Buehler? Buehler? sorry, I know I’m not the first one to do that) for the Dodgers. The first four innings were exactly as expected as both pitchers mowed down the opposition. Had fireworks early as both Nats’ centerfielder Adam Eaton and manager Dave Martinez were ejected for arguing balls and strikes. Then things slowed down. Strasburg lost his no-hit bid and his shutout in the 5th and Buehler’s response was to give the Nats a 3-1 lead thanks to a big fly from Brian Dozier. Things only got worse for the Dodgers as Buehler struggled and his defense let him down with some poor play. This one got ugly as Jamie Schultz (just up from AAA) melted down in the 8th and with the Nats up by 10 the Dodgers got 3 off of Michael Blazek but Washington wins 11-4.
Celebrity sighting. Toby Keith was in attendance. I saw him on the jumbotron. He was sitting right behind home plate, I wasn’t hoity toity enough (or rich enough) to sit there.
On the docket for next week
July 29 – No game
July 30 – Altoona @ Trenton (Aaron Judge bobblehead and a doubleheader)
July 31 – Hartford @ Harrisburg (day game)
July 31 – Vermont @ State College
August 1 – TBD
August 2 – Altoona @ Reading
August 3 – Richmond @ Harrisburg (Jamey Carroll bobblehead)
August 4 – Toronto @ Baltimore
