My First Interleague Game!

I took a trip to Arlington Texas this past weekend. I saw the Chicago Cubs take on the Texas Rangers. It is my first Interleague Baseball Game! Before the game, the trolley from the hotel that was supposed to take us to the ballpark was over an hour late! We finally arrived at the ballpark at about 6:50 PM. The PA announcer was going over the starting lineups when we walked in. Our seats were in the Center Field Bleachers. I could not believe my eyes. The Chicago Cubs, for the first time since August 14, 2002, were right in front of me! I was so eager to get the ballgame started. I saw Texas get past a leadoff walk to end the top of the first, then saw Ted Lilly have a dominant outing against the Rangers bats. Cubbies had runners at first and third in the second when the Shortstop (Starlin Castro) grounded into a 6-4-3 Double Play to bring a run across, 1-0 Cubs. The Rangers would come back in the fourth inning. I was actually in line buying a soda when this play happened, but I saw the replay on one of the TVs. The Cubs third baseman threw the ball wide of our first baseman. Our Second Baseman then threw the ball wide to third, allowing the runner(Ian Kinsler) to head all the way to third. (The Ballpark went Crazy!) Vladamir Guererro hit a long fly ball to left for a double, tying the game at 1. Guererro would then be brought around with a double, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead. There were no homeruns hit by either side.

Fast forward to the top of the eighth. The Cubs have hit back to back singles. Then, the ball gets away from the catcher, allowing the runner to move up all the way to third! I remember thinking "All The Cubs need is a base hit to tie it!" Our Second baseman (Mike Fontenot) hit a ball down the Left field line that I thought was going to at least tie the game....Then the ball went just foul, by an Inch! I kid you not! Fontenot then struck out looking to end the inning. I remember telling my dad "That was our best chance and we wasted it."

Go to the Top of the ninth. The Rangers then bring in their closer with an electric fastball, Neftali Feliz. I said "Oh No! This kid Feliz can throw 100 with regularity!" "That may be, but how's his control?"said my dad. "He's Still working on that." I said. This kid was regularly reaching 96 on the radar. I have never heard the Mitt pop like it did when Feliz was pitching! That was unreal! A groundball to second for one out. Cubs call up a pinch hitter. He hits a double into right. I said "All they need is a hit!" A ball was hit foul down the right field line, but the outfielder (Nelson Cruz) made a spectacular leaping catch at the wall for the second out! That allowed the runner to move up to third. Then Kosuke Fukudome ended the game by popping up to shortstop Elvis Andrus to end the game.

I had a blast at the ballpark, and more importantly, my family did as well.

The Cubs would go on to win the next two games and win the series.