Royalty sees another MLB doubleheader on Patriot's Day!‏

On Monday April 21st ‎, I took a vacation day from work so I could continue the tradition of seeing a baseball game at Fenway Park on Patriot's Day. By doing so, I was able to continue my personal streak of seeing at least one baseball game there every year since 1986 as well.  That day the World Champion Red Sox hosted the Baltimore Orioles.

The King, our friend Phil Butleman who stayed over with us  & I woke up very early that Monday morning. Thankfully our pal Bryan Gilligan came to the house to pick us up. ‎Bryan then drove us to Dollar Rent A Car by LaGuardia Airport. He dropped me off & I went inside to pick up a car for the day. I wound up renting a Hyundai Elantra. Bryan drove his car near Citi Field. I then drove over to where he parked & I picked them up. I drove us all to Boston. We did well until I got off the exit closest to Fenway Park on the Storrow Drive. That's when things took a turn for the worst. As a result, I wound up losing 45 minutes trying to get around the area. They closed streets due to the Boston Marathon. It was a nightmare trying to find my way of the mess. After circling around different neighborhoods, I finally found a parking spot on the street near Boston University where we usually park. It was 10:30AM when we finally started walking towards Fenway from where we parked the car. ‎As we got close to the ballpark, we had to go through a number of bag checks due to the heightened security after what happened last year. 

Before I went inside I stopped off at the Sausage Connection where I saw my pal Harry. I asked him where his mother was. He said it was too cold for her. I got myself a sausage then I went into the ballpark. 

Even though the King & I had standing room tickets we were still able to luck out after moving a few times in the area we like to sit when we go there. We wound up sitting in section 24 just to the left of the screen. It's such an amazing view of the action as you can see in the picture.
 

View from Section 24 at Fenway Park

As for the game we saw, the ‎Orioles broke a scoreless tie in the third inning as they batted around. They wound up scoring six to take a 6-0 lead. The Red Sox fought back as they sliced the lead in half as they got three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a 6-3 game. They added another one in the seventh inning to make it 6-4. The Orioles were able to tack on an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning to go up, 7-4. The Red Sox scored again in the bottom of the eighth to cut the lead to 7-5. In the bottom of the ninth inning, they loaded the bases but they could only get one more run as they fell short, 7-6. 

After the game, we had to take an obstacle course to avoid the Boston Marathon that runs near Fenway & the surrounding area.  After we went through more bag checks we got to the other side of the street where we needed to be. We then finished walking to the car. Thankfully there wasn't a reoccurrence of last year. Even though, we didn't like the extra security measures, we made the best of the situation. When we got to the car, I drove us back to Citi Field where we went to see the Mets open a four game series with the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also the first Military Monday of the season. With that being said, the Mets wore special camouflage uniforms. We barely got to the game on time since coming back from Boston was no bargain because we had to deal with rush hour traffic.

View from field level at Citi Field

As for the game we saw, the Mets got six & two thirds innings of shutout ball from starter Jenrry Mejia who got just enough run support thanks to a run scoring single by David Wright in the third inning & another one from Travis d'Arnaud as the Mets went on to beat the Cardinals & starter Tyler Lyons, 2-0. 

After the game, Bryan drove the King & I back to Dollar Rent A Car so I could return the car. I wound up driving 442 miles safely. After that, he took us back home.

Stay tuned for another special post that will recap a rare NYC doubleheader weekend that we enjoyed.

Thank you for reading & following along. 

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty goes to Fenway Park on Patriot's Day in Boston on Jackie Robinson Day!

Sunday night after the Yankee game, the King drove Vincent Ascanio, Phil Butleman and I towards Boston. We stayed over in Vernon, Connecticut which is about 10 miles north of Hartford at Motel 6. By doing so, we were in position to get to Boston which was 90 miles away in time for their traditional Patriot's Day game which coincides with the running of the Boston Marathon.

We wound up parking the car on the street within walking distance of Fenway Park for free by a meter because it's a legal holiday in Massachusetts at 10AM which gave us plenty of time to make the first pitch which was threw at 11:05AM.

It's always a thrill to go to Fenway Park to see a game. For me, I've seen at least one every year since 1986. This was my 95th baseball game there.

As for our pal Vincent Ascanio this was his first time to the old ballyard. It was great to have the opportunity to show him the way there.

Upon arrival we stopped off outside the Green Monster by the left field gate where we saw our favorite street vendor, Sausage Connection which is run by Harry and his mother who were call affectionately call Mama. They were so happy to see us again. Mama told us she's 81 years young. She looked great. It's always a pleasure to see her. She doesn't work as often as she used to but she always tries to make Patriot's Day. We were grateful she did. Of course, we introduced Vincent to them. They treated us royally as they have for over the 25 + years we've known them. We all ordered steak tips which served as our breakfast on this day. They were delicious.

The King, Harry, Mama, Me & Vincent Ascanio

Once we got done, we headed inside. We wanted to make sure Vincent got to see the unique features of going to Fenway. He said he had a blast.

Green Monster 

Royal View from Section 24 at Fenway Park

As for the game we saw, in honor of Jackie Robinson Day all the players wore the number 42. With that being said, it was hard to differentiate who was who. The umpires also wore number 42.

The Red Sox were playing the Tampa Bay Rays. Both starters, Jeremy Hellickson of the Rays and Ryan Dempster of the Red Sox both threw seven strong innings. The Red Sox lead at that point, 2-1. The Rays tied the game at two in the top of the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox got a game winning double off the Green Monster from Mike Napoli as Dustin Pedroia raced around the bases all the way from first with one out to give the Red Sox a dramatic 3-2 victory at 2:07PM. Since we positioned ourselves out near the left field gate we were able to get out of the ballpark before many of the 37,449 that we were on hand. We stopped by Harry & Mama to say one last goodbye.

We then headed back to the car. In the process, we got to take a peak at the Boston Marathon which runs nearby. We had to go underground to get to the other side of the street so we could get back to the car. Thankfully we did so with relative ease unlike back in the day when we ran into wall to wall people trying to do so.

Stay tuned for a special post that will recap the unexpected turn of events that occurred shortly thereafter. A sad but unforgettable day indeed.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty enjoys another Patriot's Day at Fenway Park!

Patriot's Day at Fenway Park in its 100th Anniversary season  

After we saw Sunday night baseball on ESPN live at Yankee Stadium, the King drove us towards Boston so we could be in position to see the traditional Patriot's Day baseball game at Fenway Park during its 100th Anniversary season Monday morning.

When the schedule came out back in September, we looked to see who the Red Sox were playing on the third Monday in April which is a legal holiday in the state of Massachusetts and Maine. Besides the Red Sox playing baseball in the morning, the Boston Marathon takes place every year on that day.

This time the Red Sox were hosting the Tampa Bay Rays. In addition, the Yankees were slated to play the Minnesota Twins in the Bronx that night.

We instantly decided that we'll be spending our seventh Patriot's Day together in Boston. We were joined by our pal Phil Butleman who decided to come with us.

For me, it was my 94th baseball game I've seen live at Fenway. That's at least one every year there since 1986. That tradition continues as well.

In addition, we were blessed with summer like weather that day. It was very warm with the temperature reaching the upper 80's. It was great weather for baseball but not for those who were planning to run in the marathon. As a result, some people were forced to pull out of the race.

On the way there, we spent the night at Super 8 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts which put us an hour or so away from Boston. We checked in around 2:30AM. We got some sleep then we continued on our way to Fenway. We arrived with plenty of time to spare.

Upon arrival, we stopped off at our favorite street vendor, Sausage Connection. We said hello to the special people we know, Harry and his mother who was also there. It was too early to have something to eat since we had some breakfast at the hotel. After the game, we saw them and we got some food and ate it on our way back to the car. Just like the Green Monster at Fenway Park, seeing them is always part of the royal experience.

In between we went inside to see some baseball, the Red Sox wound up falling to the Rays by a score of 1-0. The lone run came courtesy of a walk by Red Sox' starter Josh Bard who issued seven walks in all while striking out seven batters over six and two thirds innings of work. James Shields of the Rays worked into the ninth inning shutting down the Red Sox' offense to help preserve the victory for the Rays as Fernando Rodney picked up the save by getting the last two outs to seal the deal.

After the game, we caught a glimpse of the Boston Marathon which runs a few blocks away from Fenway Park as we made our way back to the car so we could head back to the Bronx to see the Yankees play the Twins.

Stay tuned for that and the rest of my week in review.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty celebrates Patriot's Day at Fenway Park!

Dice-K delivers first pitch at 11:06AM at Fenway Park

In case you didn't know the third Monday in April in the state of Massachusetts and Maine is known as Patriot's Day. It's a legal holiday that commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord back in 1775.
To celebrate the holiday in Boston they have an annual race called the Boston Marathon. In addition, the Boston Red Sox always play a morning baseball game at 11:05AM too.

As for the Red Sox, the King and I have now gone to six different Patriot Day games together at Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark which is now 99 years old.

We were there in 1993, 1994, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

In matter of fact, Monday morning was my 92nd game I saw there. I've now seen at least one game there every year since 1986.

As for the King, that game was his 6,700th baseball game that he's seen in person live.

I'm closing in on my 4,000th baseball game which should take place this weekend at Citi Field.

Ironically back on April 18, 1994, the King and I saw the Red Sox play the Chicago White Sox on Patriot's Day. The Red Sox lost that day, 12-1. After the game, we decided on the spur of the moment to drive to Philadelphia for the Phillie game at 7:35PM that night. We drove 310 miles and we parked the car in Philadelphia at 7:45PM. We ran into some traffic when we got to the Bronx. If not, we would have gotten to Philadelphia on time that night. What a day of adventure that was for us.

17 years later to the day, we were in Fenway Park for another Patriot's Day game. This time the Red Sox played the Toronto Blue Jays and this time they won, 9-1. Daisuke Matsuzaka aka "Dice-K" pitched a gem for 7 innings. He struggled for the first few innings giving his only hit and walk of the game then he went on to retire the last 16 Blue Jays he faced. He left with a shutout but the Blue Jays got a run in the ninth inning when Yunel Escobar took knuckleballer Tim Wakefield deep for a solo home run to break the shutout.

It should be noted before and after the game, the King and I visited our favorite vendor outside the left field gate right by the Monster seats, the Sausage Connection. Stay tuned for the special post I'm going to do about these special people.

After the game, we took a quick peak of the marathon that runs right near Fenway Park, we got to the car and drove towards New Britain, Connecticut for another game before we headed home. We saw the New Britain Rock Cats, the Minnesota Twins affiliate of the Eastern League play the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Blue Jays farm team. The Fisher Cats won this one, 7-3.

Before the game we made a special stop in nearby Bristol, Connecticut which happens to be the home of ESPN.

We didn't go to ESPN but we did past one of its buildings. We did go to a place called the Clam Digger to have dinner though.

Stay tuned for the special post I'm going to write about this place and how we find out about it. Trust me it's going to be a great story to read.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman