Orioles 8, Braves 4
Saturday marked my third trip to Camden Yards and to say the other times I ventured out to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore were more subdued would have been an understatement. In 2007 I saw the Rockies annihilate the Orioles and a year later it was Orioles who trampled the Rangers, but I had never experienced a back-and-forth battle like I did on Saturday.
Camden Yards has been a baseball fan’s destination since it opened in 1992. At the time, the Ballpark was a novelty, bucking the trend of the oversized multipurpose Stadiums and Domes by creating a quaint intimate ballpark with a retro feel that got the fans closer to the action. And at a certain vantage point, the red brick and black iron works park looks to be carved out of an old factory (which houses the Baltimore Sports Museum) that only adds to its charm.
The game itself was not a sell-out any means, but those in attendance made their voices heard, cheering for the Braves in the fourth when they took the lead, and similarly in the seventh when the Orioles battled to take back the lead with a six run inning. I was impressed by the number of Braves fans that came out for the game. It appeared the crowd was a 60-40 split with the Orioles fans making up the majority, but still I didn’t feel like an outcast in my ¾ length Braves t-shirt.
It also appeared that many fans were taking advantage of one of the highlights of interleague play, exploring new Stadiums they wouldn’t ordinarily visit because their team doesn't play there. Many often sight being able to see different teams at your home ballpark as a huge plus for interleague, but they neglect the opposite side, even though baseball is noted for being a sport that lends itself to fan road trips.
The only real draw back of Camden Yards is the food selection. For the most part the food you’ll find in Baltimore is standard fair with little flair and in some cases little taste. Having learned from the past, I skipped the hot dog and went straight for the Italian sausage which I added spicy brown mustard to. (Of course, I always come with my own mustard packages, but that’s another story.) The Stadium also allows you to bring in your own food so it’s not a bad idea to pick up some food at the Inner Harbor shops located only a few blocks away and bring it in. The food aside, I would recommend any baseball fan take a trip to Baltimore to check it out.
As for the Braves, well their play was about as good as a hot dog at Camden Yards. I missed Tommy Hanson’s brilliant start by one day and luckily missed Derek Lowe’s poor start by a day as well, leaving just Kenshin Kawakami and me. After getting off to a rough start - he gave up a two run homer to Adam Jones in the first, and then proceeded to load the bases before getting out of the inning - Kawakami settled in, not allowing another run in his remaining four innings. Jeff Bennett followed with a scoreless sixth before the wheels fell off for the Braves bullpen in the seventh inning when they gave up the lead and six runs.
Poor pitching aside, Jeff Francoeur had a banner night, going 3-for-4 with a two run ground rule double and he also threw a strike to third which allowed Chipper Jones to tag Melvin Mora in the seventh. If Frency can keep up that kind of play, well then maybe the Braves shouldn’t trade him after all. The night also marked my first viewing of the newly acquired centerfielder Nate McLouth and the recently called up first baseman Barbaro Canizares. Plus I almost saw Bobby Cox and/or Francoeur get ejected after Frenchy started arguing with the homeplate umpire after being called out. So all and all a fun night.
After Saturday’s loss, I still remain winless in all Braves games I attend played outside of the month of April. That’s weird, right?
Saturday marked my third trip to Camden Yards and to say the other times I ventured out to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore were more subdued would have been an understatement. In 2007 I saw the Rockies annihilate the Orioles and a year later it was Orioles who trampled the Rangers, but I had never experienced a back-and-forth battle like I did on Saturday.
Camden Yards has been a baseball fan’s destination since it opened in 1992. At the time, the Ballpark was a novelty, bucking the trend of the oversized multipurpose Stadiums and Domes by creating a quaint intimate ballpark with a retro feel that got the fans closer to the action. And at a certain vantage point, the red brick and black iron works park looks to be carved out of an old factory (which houses the Baltimore Sports Museum) that only adds to its charm.
The game itself was not a sell-out any means, but those in attendance made their voices heard, cheering for the Braves in the fourth when they took the lead, and similarly in the seventh when the Orioles battled to take back the lead with a six run inning. I was impressed by the number of Braves fans that came out for the game. It appeared the crowd was a 60-40 split with the Orioles fans making up the majority, but still I didn’t feel like an outcast in my ¾ length Braves t-shirt.
It also appeared that many fans were taking advantage of one of the highlights of interleague play, exploring new Stadiums they wouldn’t ordinarily visit because their team doesn't play there. Many often sight being able to see different teams at your home ballpark as a huge plus for interleague, but they neglect the opposite side, even though baseball is noted for being a sport that lends itself to fan road trips.
The only real draw back of Camden Yards is the food selection. For the most part the food you’ll find in Baltimore is standard fair with little flair and in some cases little taste. Having learned from the past, I skipped the hot dog and went straight for the Italian sausage which I added spicy brown mustard to. (Of course, I always come with my own mustard packages, but that’s another story.) The Stadium also allows you to bring in your own food so it’s not a bad idea to pick up some food at the Inner Harbor shops located only a few blocks away and bring it in. The food aside, I would recommend any baseball fan take a trip to Baltimore to check it out.
As for the Braves, well their play was about as good as a hot dog at Camden Yards. I missed Tommy Hanson’s brilliant start by one day and luckily missed Derek Lowe’s poor start by a day as well, leaving just Kenshin Kawakami and me. After getting off to a rough start - he gave up a two run homer to Adam Jones in the first, and then proceeded to load the bases before getting out of the inning - Kawakami settled in, not allowing another run in his remaining four innings. Jeff Bennett followed with a scoreless sixth before the wheels fell off for the Braves bullpen in the seventh inning when they gave up the lead and six runs.
Poor pitching aside, Jeff Francoeur had a banner night, going 3-for-4 with a two run ground rule double and he also threw a strike to third which allowed Chipper Jones to tag Melvin Mora in the seventh. If Frency can keep up that kind of play, well then maybe the Braves shouldn’t trade him after all. The night also marked my first viewing of the newly acquired centerfielder Nate McLouth and the recently called up first baseman Barbaro Canizares. Plus I almost saw Bobby Cox and/or Francoeur get ejected after Frenchy started arguing with the homeplate umpire after being called out. So all and all a fun night.
After Saturday’s loss, I still remain winless in all Braves games I attend played outside of the month of April. That’s weird, right?
(Photos: PIMC)
No comments:
Post a Comment