A Perfect Game

Wow, what can I say?  We saw history at the ballpark today, as Philip Humber threw the 21st Perfect Game in MLB history.  27 up, 27 down, and I saw every minute of it.  Sometimes you just have to tip your cap, and appreciate the moment.

19 years ago, almost to the day, I had been at Chris Bosio's no-hitter but left early (didn't realize it was a no-no), this afternoon I was aware of every single moment.  It was probably around the third inning, after we'd been through our lineup once, that I noticed how well Humber was pitching (or was it our ineptness?).  It wasn't until the 5th inning when we went down on 8 pitches that I knew something special was going on.  You could feel it, he was in the zone and we were at a loss offensively.  

Philip Humber - 21st Perfect Game in ML History!

Lost in the game, another great performance by Beavan and our pitching staff, but who really cares how well they pitched, or a rundown of the White Sox scoring... in ten years nobody will remember.  Hell, in two months!

After the pile the celebration continued

The game ended with controversy as it looked like, to me and several others, that pinch hitter Ryan had checked his swing on a wild ball four... but Home Plate umpire Brian Runger said he went around, and Pierzynski was able to hunt down the ball and throw Ryan out at first.  Humber collapsed to the ground, his teammates piled on top of him.  I tried to take in the moment, and also tried to capture it on my camera phone... but it doesn't really do justice.  Everyone in the stadium was really excited to be a part of history, most of the crowd was cheering Humber on when the bottom of the 9th began.  I couldn't... I was hoping we would at least get a walk.  I can take a no-hitter... but a Perfect Game against my team?  Hard to digest.

It is still a bit surreal, I'm not sure what to think about what I just witnessed.  From the seventh inning on I was a bundle of nerves and kept making mistakes on my scoresheet!  I didn't know Lillibridge had come in as a defensive replacement for Viciendo in the 8th inning until he came up to bat in the 9th (and scored the final run).  I put Jaso in as pinch hitter for Saunders instead of Olivo!  My hands were shaking, my heart was racing... I think I am still in shock.  Not many people can say they've seen such a game live and in person, but now I have.

One of the reasons I love baseball is that, as I have mentioned before, you never know what you are going to see at the ballpark.  There is always a chance for History, and today proved that.  Humber isn't one of the elite pitchers in the game, but now his name will live on forever.  Congrats to Humber, now let's shake this off and win tomorrow.

The Mariners are now 2-4 when I attend
Attendance: 22,472
Time of Game: 2:17

Chicago White Sox Scoresheet for Humber's Perfect Game

4-21-2012 - 27 Up, 27 Down, Humber's Name is Hall of Fame Bound as he is Perfect

Noesi Pummeled

On Saturday, Hector Noesi threw a gem, lasting 8 shutout innings.  Tonight, we wasn't able to make it out of the second as the Mariners lost 7-3 on Ichiro Bobblehead night.

White Sox (6-6)

De Aza CF

Morel 3B

Dunn DH

Konerko 1B

Pierzynski C

Rios RF

Ramirez SS

Viciedo LF

Beckham 2B

Sale (1-1, 3.09)

Mariners (7-7)

Figgins CF

Ackley 2B

Ichiro RF

Smoak 1B

Montero C

Olivo DH

Liddi 3B

Wells LF

Ryan SS

Noesi (1-1, 5.73)

Before the game started, we walked around the ballpark taking things in.  Looks like they fixed the grammatical error in the decorative "Grand Salami" quote near the Niehaus Statue.  They added an apostrophe so instead of saying "...Its Grand Salami Time" it now correctly states "It's Grand Salami Time.


We also went to Blazing Bagels near the left field entrance, I had never been there before but since it is attached to the outside the prices are much cheaper.  I got two bagels for $6.45 and my sister got a huge boxed lunch of a bagel sandwich, drink, pickle, chips, cookie, and coleslaw for $11.  I will definitely be going back there as I have been disappointed with the fare at Safeco this year.  They no longer make the garlic chicken & fries, you only receive chicken tenders and regular fries.  BOOOOOO.


Back to the game, Noesi didn't have it from the start.  Last week he was really quick between pitches, but he labored from the very first batter tonight.  It seemed like he and Montero were arguing.  I don't know what it was, but he didn't have anything!  De Aza lead off with a single, then stole a bases.  Morel walked, then Dunn hit a double to left driving in his first run of the game (he would have 5).  They loaded the bases on 1 out and got their second run via a sacrifice fly from Rios.  In the 2nd inning, he retired the first batter of the inning but then gave up 4 consecutive hits, a double, two singles, and a three run homer by Dunn to center.  Wedge yanked him after the home run.  It was disappointing as our offense was never really given a chance.  Noesi's final line:  1.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 1 K = 40.50ERA on 58 pitches!!!

One of the stories of the game is that the Mariners had runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings and could only manage one run.  Overall, we were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position.  After opening up the 1st down 2-0, we roared right back by getting Figgins and Ackley on first and third.  Figgins had singled to shortstop, and made it all the way around to third on Ackley's single to center.  It was good base running by Figgins, once again.  But Ichiro struck out swinging and Smoak hit into a double play.  In the second inning we got runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs but were unable to produce.  By that time we were down 6-0 and the ballgame was pretty much over.  We did squeak in a run in the third thanks to an RBI double by Ichiro.  Montero got us our second by LAUNCHING a solo homer to lead off the 6th, to dead center.  It travelled 417 feet and was his second of the year.  Ichiro picked up his second rbi of the game by driving in Ryan in the 7th.

Our Bullpen did a pretty decent job, allowing only 1 extra batter above minimum the whole rest of the game, but we were unable to overcome the damage of Noesi's ineffectiveness.  Iwakuma finally made is ML debut in the6th inning and finished off the game, allowing Dunn's second homer, a solo, to lead off the 8th inning.  There was a running joke on Twitter wondering if he even existed, since we hadn't seen a glimpse of him in the previous 14 games this season.  So there were some positives about the game, Ramirez and Iwakuma were good.  Unfortunately my optimism about the improvement in our offense this year is beginning to wane. We need to start producing!  Sure, a few of our guys had pretty decent nights at the plate but it is a team game and someone needs to step up and drive in guys when they are on base!

Montero threw out his first base runner tonight, an attempted steal by Beckham in the 7th.

An interesting note, the first 20,000 fans received an Ichiro Bobblehead.  Only 19,947 showed up to the ballgame.  My, how far we have fallen.  In the past the Bobbleheads have been gone by 5:30.   Even the classic marketing gimmicks can't drawn fans anymore!

The Mariners are now 2-3 when I attend, and 7-8 overall
Time of Game: 2:45

Mariners Shut Out

Not much to say with this one, Danks went the whole way and we were shut out 3-0.  The higlight of the game was in the ceremonial pitch as Larry Bernandez (Felix Hernandez's commercial alter ego) threw out the first pitch.  It was Larry Bernandez bobblehead night.

White Sox

Pierre LF

De Aza RF

Konerko DH

Ramierez SS

Dunn 1B

Lillibridge CF

Flowers C

Morel 3B

Beckham 2B

Danks P

Mariners

Ichiro RF

Gutierrez CF

Ackley 2B

Carp 1B

Olivo C

Wells LF

Pena DH

Seager 3B

Ryan SS

Pineda P

Pineda retired the first 9 in order, then go into trouble in the 4th as Pierre led off with a high chopper of an infield hit.  Followed by two consecutive singles and then a sac fly, and we were down 2-0.  That's all Danks needed, but they added another in the 8th on a solo homer. The Mariners were only able to muster three hits and 1 walk, striking out 10 times.  At least the game was only 2 hours and 9 minutes, so it was over quickly.

Burger, Att 30,522

The Mariners fell to 13-16 when I attend

Lost Opportunities

White Sox (63-65)

Pierre LF

Lillibridge 1B

Konerko DH

Rios CF

Ramirez SS

Flowers C

De Aza RF

Morel 3B

Beckham 2B

Peavy P

Mariners (56-73)

Ichiro RF

Gutierrez CF

Ackley 2B

Carp 1B

Olivo C

Seager 3B

Pena DH

Ryan SS

Robinson LF

Furbush P

 

It was a disappointing loss as the Mariners had ample opportunity to win.  Furbush struggled early on, with 70 pitches through the first three.  He allowed the leadoff batter of the game on in a single.  Then, Olivo had a passed ball which took away a double play opportunity.  The White Sox ended up scoring two times in the first, and we never led the rest of the game.

In the bottom of the second we were able to get 1 back with a leadoff solo shot on the first pitch by Olivo.  Then, in the third we left the bases loaded.  We tied it up in the 4th, then after the White Sox immediately took back the lead with a two run homer in the 5th, we left the bases loaded once again in the 7th.  In all, we left 11 men on base and lost by the final score of 4-2.

Attendance 28,621
- Gyro/Fries

13-15 when I attend

Felix Goes the Distance, M's Win Again!

I've been a bit sick this homestand, tonight was the first game I'd been to. Since the last game, they had gone 7-3 (including 5-1 on roadtrip) to enter the game at 15-17 and just three games behind Anaheim for the AL West lead. Okay, I know they are the LA Angels of Anaheim but sorry... they're not in Los Angeles! I can't believe I'm saying it but we are now 16-17!! Who would have thought!

Let's talk about this game, it had a little of everything. My sister said "I've never seen that before" when referring to the 4th inning blunder by Jack Wilson. With a runner on first and no out, Ramirez sacrificed with a bunt up the first base line, but it turned into a base hit when Olivo picked it up and found no one covering first... which should have been the second baseman as Smoak was charging for the ball as well. This turned into a huge mistake as there should have been one out and instead runners on 1st and 2nd. Pierre, on 2nd, ended up coming around to score the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly which should have been the third out of the inning.

In the 8th We had a rundown! A runner was caught off third after taking too large of a lead on a groundball to the shortstop Ryan, who made a heads up play and threw to third. After a couple of throws the runner was out and it provided a lot of excitement 'cause at that point we were still tied.

There was a Bradley ejection in the 8th, he got into the face of the HP umpire on a called third strike as Figgins slid into third with a steal. Konerko had earlier had a few words, but Milton was tossed and Wedge had to run out and hold him back from the umpire or he would have been facing a suspension. He waved the bat around a little. That was exciting but was lacking in the fun of those classic Lou moments when he would kick dirt, toss his hat etc.

Felix was outstanding, went 9 innings on 5 hits and just 2 runs (1 shouldn't have happened). His last out he was so fired up, my sister commented that she had never seen him that excited, that he is usually so calm. Oh no, he gets excited... and tonight was the perfect example. He picked up his 4th win of the year already.

Brendan Ryan had the game winning hit up the middle with pinch runner Kennedy on 3rd. The bench emptied and the crowd went wild, we had won the game 3-2! He had come into the game on an 1-23 slump, so this was a huge hit for him. He also had our first hit, a double, earlier in the game.

Smoak continues to impress me... since coming back from the bereavement list he has hit .353 with 3 HR, 13 RBI and OPS of 1.127. He had another good game with a key 2B, RBI, and a BB.

Ichiro Bobblehead night, annoying! But, over 31,000 fans got to see a great, entertaining ballgame. My sister and I both got pizza (Pepperoni) from The Pen and enjoyed it, but we both agreed that it wasn't enough food as we were still hungry. An annoying aspect was that I asked for the white pizza but five minutes later it still wasn't ready, and I was starving so I gave up. About halfway through the game we got some Kettle Corn ($4.75) which was decent, but the stuff outside is cheaper and better!! We had fun and she reported that it was her third game this year already, which was more than all of last year. No Dancing Grounds Crew today, but they did do YMCA early in the game which I hadn't seen in a long time. Some famous skater dude named Rob Dyrdek threw out the first pitch and my sister tried to get his autograph but the line was too long.

This will probably be my only game of the homestand since I am under the weather and need to fully recover. However, I do feel the fresh air and great game helped me out. I will see, it will be very tempting to sacrifice my health since we're one win from .500! At one point we were 4-11.

Oh, the roof was closed and they wore those ugly teal tops as you can see in the celebration picture up top.

The Mariners are now 5-4 when I attend!