Game 2: Lakeland at Tampa

Finally have time to recap the game from last night and it was a fun one. I got to the park about 15 minutes to first pitch and was pleasantly surprised at the turnout. I know it is opening day but I didn't expect such a huge turnout. They had invited about 6 catholic schools so there were a few nuns and priests roaming around which was weird. I originally went to my seat, it doesn't have my name on it which is a bummer it just says"booster club season ticket holder" good enough I guess. I skimmed the crowd for familiar faces but didn't see many. I talked to a few of the boosters for a while and then I found where the Marshall family was sitting so I went over to say hello, I ended up sitting with them the majority of the game, they were right behind home plate so it was a different view than I am used to.

Sean Black was the starting pitcher and he was pretty good, he got some good swings and misses and the defense for the most part was working well behind him. We decided that in order to not let Rob Lyerly commit a costly error, the pitcher must make sure to not let the batter hit any balls his way, for the most part they were able to do that because of all the times I was watching I don't think I saw him have to handle but 1 or 2 balls.
The Yankees scored first in the 3rd inning on a single by Walter Ibarra, he moved to 3rd on a double by Abe Almonte and scored on a sac fly by Carmen Angelini. Love a little small ball. The tigers got on the board in the fifth inning on a triple and wild pitch. I missed Kyle Higashioka throw a runner out at 2nd but I am sure ill be able to see that a few times this season so Ill tell you how he does when I see it. The Tigers scored again in the 6th to put them up 2-1. In the top of the 7th with 2 outs and the bases loaded via a single and 2 walks, the Tigers changed pitchers to face Rob Lyerly. He proceeded to hit a 3 run triple which put the TY up 4-2 going into the 8th. He went 3-5 in the game tonight so as long has he can hit to make up for his fielding mistakes then maybe Ill learn to tolerate when he leaves his glove at home. Chase Whitley looked pretty good pitching the 8th inning and he came out again in the 9th but didn't last long.  A few well placed balls later, the bases were loaded for Francisco Gil who gave up a 3 run double that I was almost positive had been caught by either Taylor Grote or Abe Almonte, they both ran for it and nearly collided,  I thought Almonte had caught it but he scrambled around looking for it and by the time he had thrown the ball back in, we were down 6-4. The 2 out hit was a big game changer for both Lakeland and Tampa in this game.
So to the bottom of the 9th. The hitters up were Deangelo Mack, Walter Ibarra and Abe Almonte. Mack grounded out and Ibarra singled. Almonte had a little picking up to do after he missed the ball in the outfield and he came through hitting a huge home run nearly over the Tampa Tribune deck in right field. He had tied the game at 6-6.
The Tampa Yankees eventually won in the only way you want to finish a 10 inning game and that was via the walk-off. Taylor Grote singled and moved to 2nd on a error by the 3rd baseman who I think threw the ball into the dugout(good to see we weren't the only one with a faulty 3rd baseman) Grote moved up on a groundout by Zoilo Almonte and up came Kyle Higashioka who was 0-4 on the night. He hit a tapper up the 3rd base line and both he and Taylor were running, the 3rd baseman didn't come up with the ball(it was closer to home than 3rd by the time he got to it) and Taylor scored the winning run. It was super exciting and even though there was a little bullpen meltdown it would not have been as exciting as if they had won 4-2 before the meltdowns by both bullpens.
After the game they had a fireworks show and launch-a-ball which is my favorite post-game activity they do, someone actually got the ball into the bucket which hardly ever happens.

View from the outfield/Tribune Deck

Now to the fun stuff. I was sitting with the Marshall's and Brett's brother comes over from the Tribune deck and said he ran into Manny(Banuelos). They were all wondering why he was at the game and not in Trenton and since I knew, I told them that his grandmother was sick and he had flown home and didn't make his start. A little while later I got thirsty and they told me that the Tribune deck didn't have a long line so I headed over there, I walked past Brett's mom who was talking to Manny and she called me back and introduced us to each other. I stood there for about 10 minutes as they were talking and I also interjected a few things like how great I thought he looked in Spring Training and how I watched him pitch the final minor league spring game. he was talking about how much fun he had in Spring Training and the starts that he made for the team. He said it felt nice to strike out Youkilis but he was sad they pulled him after that strikeout. He told us what Joe said to him when he came out to get him, why he had such a huge smile on his face and also where he plans to end the season(can you guess?). Because I didn't want to impose on their whole conversation I kindly excused myself and wished Manny the best of luck this season even though I know he won't need it and that it was nice meeting him. Of course, I also couldn't pass up the opportunity to get my picture taken with him so in an awkward silence I asked if it would be okay to get a picture, he kindly obliged and now I have a picture with him.

The wait is over! Here is the picture.

A little later in the game we all went down to the first row of the Tribune Deck and it was a really different perspective, I have never sat in the outfield and it was a nice view and windy, it would be a great place to sit on a hot day when the infield is like a hotbox. As I was walking back to the infield from the Tribune Deck I looked into the bullpen and saw someone who looked like Mark Prior, he had the number 51 on and I looked on the roster and there was no 51. My suspicions were confirmed when he got up and sauntered over to a fan in the stands who was waving around a magazine. I know that none of the other guys in the bullpen would be on a magazine so it was definitely him.

Mark Prior signing a magazine for a fan.

I am heading off to the 3rd game in the series in Lakeland in about an hour and taking my cousins with me. It is a hot one so hopefully there is either a cool breeze or it cools down quick. Josh Romanski is pitching and he is my favorite kind of pitcher, a lefty. It should be a good time. If I pay attention to the game I will try to recap it for you all.

One interesting/funny note about the Lakeland Flying Tigers: They have a player on the team named Gustavo Nunez. Two names that a lot of people I know would not like to see in the same NYY lineup.