Padres Sweep the Pirates...

The last time we went to a Padres' game was on July 4th, 2009. They played the LA Dodgers and won. I'm beginning to think that Steve and I might just be the San Diego team's good luck charm.

Between the enthusiasm of my friend Brady and our older son, Steve and I belatedly caught baseball fever, specifically for the Padres. When I saw that tickets were available for a 1:10 PM game, on a Wednesday, I grabbed them and off to San Diego we went.
Petco Park has been the home of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB) since opening in 2004. Two decades later, it is still a stunning stadium. What a venue.


Arriving early revealed the pre-game activities/preparations of the players.



As for the mascot, the Swinging Friar has represented the team since 1958 when the Padres were still a member of the Pacific Coast League, a minor league baseball organization. He was named after the Spanish Franciscan friars, who founded the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, around which the city of San Diego began to emerge in the 18th century. The Padres joined MLB in 1969 and kept the popular mascot. He was even on the team emblem until 1984. Wanting a more professional image, the owners introduced a more corporate logo. In 1996, he was brought back as a sleeve patch for the club’s blue alternate jerseys, and though the team has changed its logo and colors since then, the Friar remains there to this day. Oh, and he's pretty fun to watch live, too.

I was advised to watch center fielder Jackson Merrill. The new kid on the block was born in 2003. I still can't wrap my head around that. The 21 year old had another great game with an amazing two-run triple. He also made an impossible catch, at the back wall, that made the fans go ballistic. WOW. That kid is really going places.


When I saw these people on the jumbotron I had to take my own photo and share. The sign reads, "I came from Oregon to sit on Brett's balcony." Hysterical.
What makes it truly amazing is the fact that the balcony is incredibly far away. I'm pointing at the building from our seats. Oh man, there is nothing like a 'real' camera for capturing distance. I think we had the better view. No offense Brett.
As for the game itself, we were thoroughly impressed. According to sportswriter AJ Cassavell, "The Padres are not merely playing their best baseball of the season. They’re playing some of the best baseball they’ve ever played."
"San Diego thrashed Pittsburgh again on Wednesday afternoon at Petco Park, an 8-2 demolition to complete a six-game season-series sweep of the Pirates -- all within a nine-day span. It marked the Padres’ 19th victory in their past 22 games -- the first time in franchise history they’ve done that. A night earlier, they equaled a franchise record from 2007 by clinching an eighth straight series win."
"With their recent hot streak, they’ve solidified themselves as clear postseason favorites and outside contenders for the National League West. As of the final out on Wednesday, they trailed the Dodgers by three games."
I'm bummed we fell in love with America's favorite pastime so late in the season. With our crazy schedule this is the only game we can attend but what a game it was!

"Every day is a new opportunity.
You can build on yesterday's success
or put its failures behind and start over again.
That's the way life is,
with a new game every day,
and that's the way baseball is."
- Bullet Bob Feller

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