First off, Spring, you can arrive and stay at any point. I would appreciate that. I know that I usually still have not gotten out the shorts yet and keep my jacket handy but I am still going to games wearing 4 layers. Nah, not on the second full week of May. I could even do without the rain or at least so much of it. Granted we can’t have doubleheaders without rain but having to worry about it every night is a problem.
When I was in Altoona last week I stopped in at Railroad City and purchased a 4 pack of Mallo Stout. It tastes like Mallo Cups but I can only handle one per night, which given the price is probably a good thing. It is almost too sweet for a beer. But it is one of those oddballs that I have had. If you made the scrunchy face when you read this you were not alone, all of the non-beer drinkers I told did the same thing. Drove by Boyer Candies as well, didn’t look open. You know my dad saved up all of his Mallo Cup points for years and years and last year he finally cashed them in and what did he get. He got Marty Mallo. He didn’t know what it was, but it was a plush doll. Almost a year later I still think that was and is hilarious.
Game #42. Thanks to Mother Nature 2 weeks ago the Senators and Trenton Thunder were rained out and the Thunder return to City Island, so Let’s Play Two! I would have sat at home but I can’t resist a doubleheader. Rony Garcia went for Trenton against Sterling Sharp. Even if it was a raw and wet night. Sharp got in some trouble giving Trenton a 2 out run but after that he mowed down the Thunder. The problem was that Garcia was even tougher but Harrisburg finally got to him in the 6th plating 2 runs and chasing him. Closer Aaron Barrett got himself in a jam but worked his was out of it for a Harrisburg 2-1 win.
Game #43. On to game 2 where Brody Koerner went for the Thunder against Logan Ondrusek for the Senators, both making spot starts. Trenton struck first again but Harrisburg came back immediately to take the lead. They added on with a Rhett Wiseman 2-run shot to cement a double header sweep with a 4-1 win. To say that the crowd was sparse was an understatement. The official attendance was about 1,700 but there were about maybe 200 people in the stands. I got not 1 but 2 t-shirts in the t-shirt toss (they were trying to get them into the suite level above me but couldn’t and I had the section all to myself) and if the screen was not as high as it was I would have had a foul ball too, but the screen stopped it. The quibble I had was that the lucky number in my program was nowhere near the numbers being called, it was 40-50 off of every single one. There weren’t enough people in the stands for that. One time I swear they only sold maybe 5 programs because all of the numbers called were close to each other, including mine. I think I won a Subway gift card that night.
Game #44. Team #15 off the board as I went down to DC to pick up a Trea Turner Bobblehead) and watch the Nats take on the New York Mets. Patrick Corbin went for the Nats against Wilmer Font for the Mets. 3rd time I’ve seen Corbin, there’s always one Nats pitcher that I seem to see more often than not. Last year it was Gio Gonzalez and before that it was Tanner Rourke. Why can’t it ever be Scherzer or Strasburg? Stopped at Jailbreak Brewing in Laurel for a pregame beer since I leave early to beat traffic, or at least try to. You never know with DC. As I watch this game I ask myself one thing: Why is Wilmer Font starting for a Major League team? He bounces from team to team to team and the Mets gave up something to get him. To put it bluntly he stunk and he was mercifully pulled in the 3rd. Could have left at that point, the Mets never recovered. Washington wins 5-1. I tell you what, the Nationals are wasting a great season from Anthony Rendon. We also had another Straight Cash Homey-esque sighting. A Nationals fan was wearing a Tony Armas jersey. Yep, Tony Armas (Jr.). Probably found that at a yard sale and wanted to fit in at games.
Game #45 Team #16 off the board as I headed to Philly to take in their matinée game with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Phillies do quite a few Business Person’s Specials and that is OK by me. I don’t need to sit in traffic getting there (even if part of the route I take is now being detoured due to bridge construction that will take until next year) or getting out, which is nice. It was a battle of Zachs as Zach Eflin pitched for the Phillies against Zach Davies for the Crew. I also learned something before this game. Umpires are required to wear black underwear. Who knew? I would guess it’s in case they split their pants but is there someone that actually inspects it?
This game on the surface looked like a pitcher’s duel (and what hopefully would be a crisp game). It wasn’t. Christian Yelich knocked a solo homerun in the first and Jean Segura answered for the Phils. Both teams again scored in the 3rd with the Phillies holding a 3-2 lead thanks to some crummy Brew Crew defense. It went downhill for the Phillies from there. The Brewer offense exploded off of a tiring Eflin and the Phillies pen. Yasmani Grandal landed the big blow with a 3 run shot in the 7th and Yelich added another with Mike Moustakas adding one for good measure. Milwaukee wins 11-3. Looks like the shine is coming off of the Phillies this year.
Game #46 After the Phillies game I made the short drive to Wilmington to take in their game with the Frederick Keys. Short in distance of course, not time. Something was going on on 476 which in turn jammed up 95. It took me an hour to get to Wilmington. I was going to stop at 2SP Brewing but with traffic I decided not to (Bad call on my part) and decided to try Twin Lakes again. I think Twin Lakes is closed, like for good. There was a lock on the door like with what realtors keep on houses they are trying to sell, so despite their website saying that they were open (and no mention on their Facebook page) they were not. In this game D.L. Hall started for the Keys against Brady Singer for the Blue Rocks. Singer was much better than the last time I saw him striking out 10 Keys. Hall was too, for a bit, at least he wasn’t wild like he was the last time I saw him. He didn’t seem to agree with the home plate ump’s strike zone and told him so. As he was telling him so before hitting the shower, Keys manager Ryan Minor came out to agree and wound up doing his best Earl Weaver impression before likewise hitting the showers. He was replaced by Cameron Ming (The Merciless?) (I’ve been waiting for that one!) who allowed the Blue Rocks to expand their lead to 6 and there it stayed. Wilmington wins 6-1.
Game #47 Well, long time no see for Frederick, it was almost like I just saw them. Oh wait…At least this time it is in Frederick as they take on the Salem Red Sox, taking Carolina League team #6 of 10 off of the board. I’ll get the rest on my upcoming trip except for Lynchburg and they will be in Frederick in June. Made a stop in at Flying Dog to pick up some beer and at Midnight Run Brewing for a pregame brew. Midnight Run is new and breweries seem to be popping up all over Frederick now. By my count they are up to 8. In the game Blaine Knight started for Frederick against Enmanuel De Jesus for the Red Sox. Knight struggled in the first but only gave up 2 thanks to a poor call by Salem’s third base coach to send a runner and subsequently had them thrown out at home. Knight settled down and Frederick struck back with a Willie Yahn solo shot and then some poor Salem defense that allowed 3 more runs in the 5th. Unfortunately it did not take long for Knight to give the runs back in the next frame and his relief made things worse. Salem wins 9-5.
Game #48 Back down to DC to get Team #17 off of the board, the Chicago Cubs. Stopped at DC Brau for a pregame beer. In this one Stephen Strasburg took the hill for the Nats against Jon Lester for the Cubs. The last time I saw Lester he gave up a 10 spot in the first inning so at the very least he can’t do any worse than that. It wouldn’t have probably mattered anyway. Strasburg was dominant with a good mix of strikeouts and ground outs. He could have gone the distance and the Nationals beleaguered bullpen needed a break. Only a solo shot from David Bote and a passed ball that scored a run plated runs for the Cubs. But the Cubs just couldn’t do much right. On the passed ball the runner on second, Addison Russell, tried to score from second when the ball bounced well away from the catcher and he was nailed at the plate. They just couldn’t get anything going offensively and Lester was not good. He couldn’t get quick outs and when you give up a solo shot to the struggling Brian Dozier and the Nationals later singled and doubled him to death before he was mercifully yanked in the 5th. While the Cub bullpen did not yield any further damage it was already done. Washington wins 5-2.
Relaxed on Sunday on a day off I scheduled. Ran down to Gunpowder Falls Brewing since they released a new beer but that was about it. I had originally intended to go to the Nats/Cubs game today but ESPN picked the game up and moved it to the night. On a Sunday night that just doesn’t work for me. The cats also need some hoomin time.
May 20 – Southern Maryland @ York
May 21 – Southern Maryland @ York
May 22 – Myrtle Beach @ Frederick
May 23 – New York @ Baltimore (Maybe, it’s a matinée game)
May 24 – Lancaster @ York
May 25 – Miami @ Washington (Ryan Zimmerman Bobblehead)
May 26 – Lancaster @ York
