I’m stealing Jen’s title. Because I can’t think of a better way to describe this entry 🙂

Saturday was amazing. Absolutely amazing. The day itself was pretty miserable, since it was boiling hot in my house and I was watching the minutes go by, but once I got to Petco Park, all that was forgotten. I had a great, great time at the ballpark 🙂

I got to Petco just before the gates opened at 5:00 pm. Jen and her friend Courtney were right outside the gates, and Kylie was already in line. She slipped out, though, and she was really really hyper. It was pretty funny. Hyun Young arrived just as the gates were opening, so we got in right away.

We headed up to the concourse and then split ways. Jen had to cheer for the Rockies in this game (thanks Tom) and Kylie of course is a Rockies fan, so they headed off to the Rockies dugout. Hyun Young and I went to see our Padres. We walked down the stairs towards the field, and what do you know, there’s already a player signing. I just had to smile when I saw who it was.

First of all, Eck’s on the DL. He doesn’t need to be out there signing for the fans. He should be hiding out in the clubhouse recovering. But this guy was out there signing for the fans!! So within five minutes of entering the stadium, Hyun Young had the autograph of her favorite player. Eck was sooo nice. He made eye contact with every person he signed for, asked how they were doing, and smiled at them. What a guy!!

Padres BP was pretty interesting. I wasn’t really watching where all the balls went, but I’m pretty sure that it was pretty lame. At least, compared to Colorado’s batting practice. But it was cool to see the players walking around. But…I had a hard time figuring out who they all were. I saw Chad Gaudin, and I reconized the guys in the cage, but all the dudes in the outfield I had no idea. Oh well.

Dude behind the screen juggling baseballs.

Now, Tom was supposed to be at this game, but things just didn’t work out this time. I can’t say that I really did anything special for him, like Jen and Kylie were doing with their voicemails and all that. But he should be proud that I recognized a Rockies player during batting practice and even tried to take a picture of him. Tom’s been talking about Todd Helton and his 2000th hit picture for a looong time. So, here’s my lame attempt at a picture of Helton.

We definitely missed you, Tom. I hope you can make it out next time 🙂

OK, so during Rockies batting practice, Hyun Young and I went to get our programs. There was this amazing usher at the top of our section. She asked if we got any autographs and obsessed over Eck. She was so nice!! Every time she saw us, she smiled and waved. It was really cool.  

We got our 5 for $5 meals, which I forgot to take a picture of again. The hot dog was amazing, the lemonade was amazing, and that cookie is like the best cookie I have ever eaten. I would easily buy five of those for $5. Wow. I even ate the popcorn, though I don’t like popcorn, but hey, Rockies BP was pretty boring so I needed something to do 🙂

After dinner, we went back down by the field. The players were going to start coming out to stretch, and I wanted to be down there to get autographs. Plus, Mat Latos himself was down there talking to some friends.

If you don’t know who Mat Latos is, that’s great, cause I don’t expect you too. But you should know now since I’m going to tell you. Latos is supposedly the next Jake Peavy. He’s the most prized pitching propect in the Padres organization right now. And he made his major league debut yesterday. He was in uniform the night before, though, and met with these people before the game. When Hyun Young and I went down there, we were really close to him, and it was really cool to hear him talk about how he found out he was going to the big leagues and all that. I took a lot of pictures of him, ’cause hey, how often do you get to be that close to a Jake Peavy?

It was really cool to see him. He was adjusting his uniform, hardly believing he was in a Padres uniform. And the guy’s just a kid, you know. He really hasn’t spent much time in the minors. It must have been so surreal for him to be there.

Starter Kevin Correia and the pitching coach walked out to the bullpen.

Around this time, players started coming out to stretch and get ready for the game. Drew Macias, Will Venable, Kyle Blanks, Everth Cabrera, Tony Gwynn.

Macias started signing, and I got his autograph.

Then Edgar Gonzalez came over to sign. I didn’t try to get his autograph that hard, because there were a ton of little kids and he was mostly signing for them. Plus, it was about time for National Anthem and all that good stuff, so I was ready to go back to my seat. But then Edgar left and Kyle Blanks came over, so I got his.

Hyun Young and I went back to our seats, and the game started. Yay for first pitch!

In the first inning, the first batter walked. Two outs later, Brad Hawpe doubled him in. Ugh.

In the bottom of the first though, we got that run back. The first two batters struck out, and they were really frustrated.

But then Adrian walked, Kouz singled, and Will Venable was hit-by-pitch. So, bases loaded. Kyle Blanks walked in the tying run! It was great. Then, Eliezar Alfonso struck out, stranding three. Just great, Alfonso.

 

And so, the game went on. Kevin Correia threw six innings, allowing only three hits and one run. He walked four and had two strikeouts. He stuggled early on, but he settled in and had a great outing. He did have a lot of very well-hit balls off of him, though. There were a ton of towering shots that seemed like they would be heading out that our outfielders caught. The guys were busy out there. So overall, a great, great outing for Kevin, and he had a beautiful sac-bunt.

Kouz is amazing, by the way.

In the fourth, it was really cool because Correia walked two guys and when one of the guys tried to go for third, he got thrown out! Best thing Alfonso did all night. But the coolest part about it was seeing it unfold in front of my eyes. I knew that the guy going for third was going to be out, because Alfonso had plenty of time. It was great!

In the middle of the fourth, I saw something that I had never seen in San Diego before: Friar Races. Yes, I know you’ve heard about the Sausage Races in Milwaukee, but I bet you’ve never heard of Friar Races. And let me tell you, it was hilarious!! You’ve got these four huge floppy friars, and they’re trying to run. A couple of them tripped, and I think the Swinging Friar came in last. It was soooo funny!! 80’s Friar won 🙂

 

In the bottom of the sixth, Kyle Blanks stuck out and Alfonso popped out. Then Edgar Gonzalez came up to the plate. I decided to call my sister, who was also at the game, so I was a bit distracted when I heard this sickening sound and saw Edgar just fall to the ground. Oh man he went down fast. He had been hit in the head with Jason Hammel’s 93-mile-per-hour pitch.

It was terrible. Buddy and the trainer rushed out and Edgar was on the ground for at least five minutes. I just kept saying over and over, “Please let him be OK, please let him be OK, please let him be OK.” The people around me probably thought I was muttering an incantation or something, but I was just praying like crazy. It was soooo scary, and I was on the verge of tears.

Finally, finally, he sat up. Even from where I was, you could tell that he was dazed. I was just so thankful that he was alive and concious.   

Then finally an emergency/medical vehicle came and took him off the field. He was able to walk to the vehicle, with help, which was very good.

I kept thinking about Adrian through this whole time. I thought he was in the dugout, but turns out he saw the whole thing on TV, when he was in the video room. He said that he wanted to get up, but he thought he would collapse if he tried to stand. Man, that would have been terrible if he was in the dugout while it happened. I have siblings, so I can imagine what he was feeling. Oh man. Adrian left the game in the next inning, and I think that was definitely for the best. Adrian needed to be with his brother at the hospital.

After this whole incident, Luis Rodriguez came in to pinch-run for Edgar. Jason Hammel left the game after walking Drew Macias, which is understandable. Hammel hit three guys that night, and he was probably really shaken up after hitting a guy in the head. He wasn’t the only one. I was in shock for a couple innings. Everth Cabrera walked, so we had the bases loaded. Then Tony Gwynn came up and lined a pitch that was destined to go up the middle and drive in some runs. But the pitcher caught it. Grrrrrrrr.

In the seventh inning, Greg Burke had a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Bottom of the seventh, it was showtime.

Chase Headley led off the inning, and he led it off with a bang. Pinch-hitting, he hit a blast to right field to finally break the 1-1 tie. Yahoo!!

Next up was my baby, and of course he doubled to get some momentum. Two outs later, Alfonso finally did something good and singled in Kouz. Yay for an insurance run!!

Luke Gregerson pitched the 8th and got two strikeouts.

Josh Fogg pitched the bottom of the eighth just as the fog was rolling in. Well, it looked like fog, but I think it was some smoke from fireworks or something. But it was still kind of creepy. 

We got this alert between the eigth and ninth inning.

And, according to Gameday: “San Diego Padres second baseman Edgar Gonzalez left the game due to an injured head.”

I know that’s not funny, but for some reason it really cracks me up. I mean, an “injured head”? Why not a “concussion” or “head contusion” or something more technical?

Anyways, it was Heath time in the top of the ninth. I love his entrance!! It’s amazing. And Heath was great. It was really weird because I kept calling him Heater. I like have never called him Heater, but being out there, watching him try to save a game, it just came out. And so, Heater it is!

Heater was great. He allowed a single to start the inning, but Heath ALWAYS makes things interesting. Then, he got a great double play thanks to Kyle Blanks at first and Everth. It was a great play. Then he struck out Troy Tulowitzki to end the game. Hehehe.

It was a great, great game. We played very well, even though we left a ton of runners on. It was soooo much fun to get out there and see how my boys are doing.

Kouz made two amazing defensive plays. I was very proud of him. And he had two hits. Which was great 🙂 He is soooo amazing!!

And Everth, oh my goodness!! This guy is incredible. I watched him make some great, great plays. I mean, this guy can flat-out play. Sure he hasn’t been hitting much lately, but his defense is soooo good!! Wow. I love Everth 🙂

Oh, and Eliezar Alfonso is officially my most hated Padre. Even if Joe Thatcher was on this team, I would still hate Alfonso more. He was hitting pretty well a few weeks ago, but now he’s like a runners-in-scoring-position killing machine! He’s left so many runners on it’s not even funny. This guy is frustrating me. I can’t wait ’til Nick and Henry get off the DL!!

So, after the game we made our way out, high-fiving the amazing usher on our way. We met up with Kylie, Jen, and Courtney and took pictures, which was really funny because Kylie was still super hyper. And I mean, her team didn’t even win!! We were trying to get a picture of all four of us with the Petco Park sign in the background, and it was amazing.

It was just so funny!! It was great to meet Kylie, watch a game with Hyun Young, and enjoy some Padres baseball. I had a great time. Again, thanks so much Hyun Young for buying me the ticket and all that. We’ll have to do it again sometime 🙂

The Padres ultimately lost the series, 3 games to 1, but I was there for that one. That’s why they won, you know. First, my hypnotising worked, then I was wearing my lucky jersey, and Hyun Young had the baseball that her teacher caught at a game that Correia was pitching. Plus, it was signed by Eck. So, I am 3-0 this season 🙂

It was definitely one of the best games I’ve been to. Bloggers are amazing 🙂

GO PADRES!!!

(yay for all the pictures being mine)