6/5/07

Today, I'm going to do my formal write-ups of my first two baseball games of the summer.

5/11 - Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles @ Fenway Park in Boston, MA

Since baseball in New England begins and ends with Fenway Park, it is only fitting that my first game of the summer up here takes place at that venerated field. Fenway Park opened in 1912, making 2007 its 96th season as home of the Red Sox. The field is very short down each line, 310' to the left field corner and 302' down the right field line. However, the left field fence, known as the Green Monster, measures 37' feet high, and while the right field fence is very low, it curves out very quickly, making it difficult for a left-handed hitter to pull the ball out of the park unless he hits it right down the line.

The ballpark definately shows its age. The seats are mostly wooden and rather uncomfortable, especially since they were constructed for someone about 1 foot shorter and at least 100 punds lighter than I. In many parts of the park, the seats are at an awkward angle, but this was not an issue behind the plate, where I was sitting.

The game itself was a gem. It was a beautiful night, with game time temperatures around 70 degrees. The Orioles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but the Red Sox tied the score in the bottom of the second. Orioles starter Brian Burress kept getting into trouble, but then getting himself back out of it, leaving the bases loaded in the 2nd and 3rd innings. The Red Sox would also leave the bases loaded in the 7th. The Orioles scored 3 runs in the top of the 5th to get a 5-2 lead. The Red Sox scored one in the bottom of the 7th, but Kevin Millar hit a sac fly in the very next inning to get the run back and provide the final run in the O's 6-3 victory.

5/22 - Lowell High vs. Dracut High @ LeLacheur Field in Lowell, MA

LeLacheur Field is the home to the Single-A Lowell Spinners of the New York/Penn League, as well as the annual Lowell Spinners High School World Series, of which this was the Championship Game. Lowell had defeated Chelmsford the day before, and Dracut had beat Billerica.

The field is typical for a minor league park. The seats only extend from foul line to foul line - there are no seats beyond the outfield walls in fair territory. The outfield dimensions would be the same on both sides, except that Aiken street, which runs around the park, forces the right field fence to angle dramatically toward the foul line, resulting in a mere 301' foot distance down the right field line. 337' is the distance to the left field pole, and the power alleys are a matching 368', 400' to dead center.

Unfortunately, the game was not entertaining at all. Dracut stormed out to a 1-0 lead in the first, but they were done scoring from that point on. Lowell tied the game in the bottom of the first, and then in the second inning the wheels came off for Dracut. Lowell scored no fewer than 11 times in the second frame, and Dracut never recovered. When Kait and I left the park, after the 4th of 7 innings, the score had risen to 16-1, and Lowell would score 4 more times after we left to finish at a 20-1 margin. Dracut made 6 or 7 errors.

Ok, hopefully my next two games will come this weekend in Connecticut. I still haven't heard from Kerry yet, but as the tickets don't appear to be hard to come by for those two teams, this isn't a crisis. Politics tomorrow, till then...