Tagged: fun
East Bound and Down
Lansing Lugnuts vs. Clinton Lumber Kings (Midwest League)
Cooley Law School Stadium-Lansing, MI: No trip back to Michigan would be complete without us stopping by one of our old ballparks to see a game, and this particular game I’ve been looking forward to since it announced it back in February. The Lugnuts were paying homage to one of Lansing’s favorite sons, the late, great Burt Reynolds! As with many kids growing up, I didn’t just love baseball, but I love cars. And what better car than the Pontiac Firebird driven by The Bandit. I bought my second Firebird in 2017, and Brian instantly fell in love with it. Since then he’s watch the Smokey and the Bandit films many times over, and we have a nice collection of die cast Firebirds. Now we have a Burt Reylonds/Bandit bobble head to add to our collection.
We got in line early, as we didn’t want to miss out on the free giveaway. I credit Brian for this, as it was his idea to skip dinner and get in line, as he really new what this game meant to me. After we received our bobble heads, we were bombarded with people trying to buy them from us immediately, with offers up to $30 (of course they’re all selling on eBay for $100-$200). I really had to convince Brian to hold on to his! We hit the gift shop to get our Lugnuts/Bandit shirts and then got ready for the game. Lansing had a 1977 Trans Am drive around the field, also, in a tribute to Burt, and the Lugnuts whore special Bandit jerseys, as seen below.
During all of this car excitement, we also were able to watch a really good baseball game. Lansing jumped out to a three run lead, but Clinton battled back to send the game into extra innings. Ryan Gold led the offense for the Lugnuts, knocking in two runs on one hit, while Tanner Kirwir went 2-5 with two runs scored. Cre Finfrock took the loss for Lansing, giving up two runs in the 10th. Final (10): Lugnuts 4, Lumber Kings 5.
The Lugnuts also had a few Firebirds outside of the stadium for us to gauk at.
This is one of the best theme nights we’ve been to in a long time. A night combining our love of baseball and cars was amazing! And I’ll leave you with a YouTube video:
Video and photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Marvel-ous
Louisville Bats vs. Buffalo Bisons (International League)
Louisville Slugger Field-Louisville, KY: One of the games Brian really wanted to see this season, was the first Marvel Super Hero Night. They were giving away Captain Marvel bobble-heads, but due to heavy traffic, we weren’t able to get one, which upset Brian a bit.
The game definitely wasn’t a pitcher’s duel. Brad Markey took the loss on the mound, throwing 4.1 innings and giving up six earned runs. The Bats made a game of it, scoring five runs in the seventh, but came up short. Aristides Aquino had a day, going 2-5 with four RBI’s and two runs scored. FINAL: Bats 8, Bisons 11.
We were able to see Spider-Man and Ant-Man, but the lines were too long and Brian didn’t want to wait to get a photo with them.
A fun ballgame to watch for sure, and looking forward to Father’s Day right after this one. Before the game Goldy Locks put on a little concert that we thought was pretty amazing!
Video and photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Bats thwart the Knights
Louisville Bats vs. Charlotte Knights (International League)
Louisville Slugger Field-Louisville, KY: Finally our first Bats game of the season. It was a little cool, and we had some rain, but nothing that would spoil out fun. Back with our Sunday seats, also, which we’ve had for a few years now. It was also Mother’s Day, so there was the ‘pink’ theme to the games.
We had some free baseball from the get go, as the teams finished three innings of Saturday nights game that was suspended due to rain. The Knights beat the Bats 7-6 in this one, but Louisville would get revenge in game two, as that one would go extra innings.
Christian Colon lead the way for the Bats, going 3-4 with an RBI. Phillip Ervin added a pair of RBI’s of his own, as well as a run scored. Anthony Bass ended up with the win for Louisville, pitching the final 1.2 innings, including the 10th. In the bottom of the 10th, Stuart Turner earned a base on balls, scoring Ervin for the win. FINAL: Bats 5, Knights 4.
Good to be back at Slugger Field, we’d be back the follow week for more baseball and rain…
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Legend-wait for it-dary
Lexington Legends vs. Delmarva Shorebirds (South Atlantic League)
Whitaker Bank Ballpark-Lexington, KY: One our way back from Tennessee, we decided to make a stop in Lexington for a ballgame. Am a big fan of Single-A ball and Whitaker Bank Ballpark, so lots to like about this game. This was actually Brian’s first game here, also. It had been rainy all day, but cleared up enough for us to enjoy the game.
Brian also got a game ball, and got a photo op with Big L.
On to the game, as it was an exciting one. A couple different players pitched in offensively for the Legends. Chase Vallot went 1-3 with an RBI, while Matt Morales went 1-4 with an RBI. On the mound, Kris Bubic threw five innings, giving up four runs, but striking out seven. Jon Heasley earned the win, throwing a shutout inning in the ninth.
A fun night of baseball, even though we were pretty tired, but I’m always up for a game here. This trip was a great start to the 2019 season, and we look forward to some Bats games in the coming weeks.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Bats Open House 2019
Louisville Slugger Field-Louisville, KY: It’s that time of year again, when the Bats welcome their season ticket holders to the ballpark for a day of fun.
Similar to the other years, we were able to check out the clubhouse, locker room, press box, and a suite. We still love the food in those suites, and vow to get one after I win the Power Ball!
As usual, we had a good time and this event gets us ready for the upcoming season. Below is a video with some of the photos, too, from the event. We plan on starting the season with a new ballpark and the Tennessee Smokies, so check back soon.
Video and photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Autograph Day
Louisville Bats vs. Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (International League)
Louisville Slugger Field-Louisville, KY: Still very far behind, but this game was toward the end of the season when the Bats held an autograph session before the game. Always a highlight of the season for us, so I bought Brian a baseball and we hit the field. The photos sort of speak for themselves!
On to the game, not a great one for the home team. Louisville left a big goose egg on the board, but a couple of players had a good game. Both Gabriel Guerrero and Nick Longhi went 1-3 for the day.On the mound, Jose Lopez took the loss. He pitched five innings, giving up four runs while striking out four. Final: Bats 0, Iron Pigs 4.
A fun day, and always good when the kids can meet the players and get some autographs. We made it to one more before the season ended, so stay tuned.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Bats games with Bri
Louisville Slugger Field-Louisville, KY: Ok, well I’m so far behind, that I’ll be combining some of the game Louisville Bats games that Brian and I attended throughout June and July. They were all fun, so I’ll just throw out some scores and photos until I’m caught up!
On June 24, the Bats faced the Norfolk Tides, winning 5-1. D.J. Peterson lead the way offensively, going 2-3 with three RBI’s. Cody Reed earned the win, throwing seven inning and striking out six.
Louisville hosted the Toledo Mud Hens on July 8, winning 6-1. Phillip Ervin went 2/4 with two RBI’s to pace the Bats. On the mound, Keury Mella earned the win in five innings of work, giving up four hits and striking out four.
On July 15, it was Pirate and Princess day at the ballpark. The Bats fell to the Columbus Clippers 8-2, but still a fun day for Bri and I. Gabriel Guerrero went 2-4 while driving in Louisville’s only runs. Jose Lopez took the loss on the bump, pitching five inning and giving up three runs on five hits.
These were some fun games for us to be at, and really helped us have a fun summer. We still have/had more baseball adventures to get to, especially watching the Bats (or Colenels… or Mashers…?).
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Tigers vs. Reds Game 2
Cincinnati Reds vs. Detroit Tigers (MLB Inter-League)
Great American Ballpark-Cincinnati, OH: Back at BABP for the day game. It was very hot, so we didn’t even bother trying to find our assigned seats, we just moved around the lower level in the shade. Brian was tired, hot, and cranky, but we were still able to get one photo out of him, but we couldn’t get a smile out of him…
On to the game, as I thought the Tigers might come out swinging as they did in the ninth inning the night before. They were actually off to a two-run lead after a first inning home run by Jeimer Candelario and a fourth inning dinger by Niko Goodrum. Last seasons Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer was keeping the Reds at bay, until the wheels came off in the sixth inning in the form of three runs. Scooter Gennett, Eugenio Suarez, and Adam Duvall all homered for the Reds, to give Cincinnati five runs in the last three innings. Tyler Mahle would start and earn the win for the Reds, as Fulmer took the loos for the Tigs. Final: Reds 5, Tigers 3.
Always fun to be at the ballpark, but the heat and the Tigers getting creamed two days in a row was a bummer. The Reds were just recently in Detroit and were swept in three games, so that was a little payback for the Tigers.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Tigers vs. Reds Game 1
Cincinnati Reds vs. Detroit Tigers (MLB Inter-League)
Great American Ballpark-Cincinnati, OH: Oops… wow I’m way behind on this blog, and didn’t even make an entry in July! Well, here I am catching up on June, when the Tigers were visiting Cincinnati, so it sounded like a great chance for us to catch some games. My dad came down from Michigan to join us for the games, also, which made it a special couple of days.
The National Anthem was cool, as they had a bald eagle from the Cincinnati Zoo do a fly in after the song.
I’m not going to mince words here, this was an ugly game for the Tigers. Just horrible. Hard to watch. Joey Votto hit a grand slam off of Nick Castellano’s glove, to help put the Reds up 9-0. The Tigers made a run in the ninth, scoring five runs to make it look respectable, but too little, too late. Scooter Gennett added two hits for the Reds and Leonys Martin went 3-3 for Detroit.
On the mound, Sal Romano earned the win for Cincinnati, while Matt Boyd struggled and took the loss for the Tigers. Fun to see the Tigers with my family, but rough to watch the re-building Tigers struggle so much. We’d be back the next afternoon to see if they could do better (they didn’t…) Final: Reds 9, Tigers 5.
Photos property of Minoring In Baseball
Chevy Bats Clinic 2018
Louisville Slugger Field-Louisville, KY: Brian was able to participate in the Bats baseball clinic sponsored by the local Chevy dealers, again this year. At least his Little League season hadn’t ended yet, so he was able to take some of the things he learned an apply them to his game situations. Once again, stations were set up all over the ballpark for the kids to better learn the game.
The hitting cages are under the stadium, so I wasn’t able to see Brian rake during this portion of the clinic, but was amble to see everything else, though. He had a great hit during the wiffle ball game, and did well catching some fly balls.
Some of the Bats coaches and players were helping out, including head coach Dick Schofield, hitting coach Leon Durham, shortstop Blake Trahan, as well as some others.
This was a fun experience for him, and I hope he can participate in it again next year.
Video and photos property of Minoring In Baseball
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