Who says baseball is boring?

After a lackluster first few games that I've attended, I am a bit apprehensive about going to the game, so to clear my mind I concentrate on the sights and sounds and the people that I meet. Leaving early enough around 5:15 allows me to stroll to the subway to enjoy the splashes of red and white shirts, hats and backpacks that weave through the subway cars as we all board the Orange Line to the ballpark. Then at the end of the line, stepping out of the station, I am thrilled by the sounds of the ticket barkers-  "Have a ticket" Need a ticket", the food vendors-"buy your water here, it's $4.50 in the park, buy it for $1.00 here" "Pretzels, hot pretzels", crowds at the sports bar across the street. It all brings a smile to my face. A darling couple with tickets in hand for Diamond Club seats 11 rows behind home plate-tell me that the tickets are a retirement present from their son. "Who's pitching", I ask? "Cole Hamels"  A woman with a Phillies RBI shirt explains the Phillies youth sports for boys and girls that she coaches.

It is all grand. I am slowing down, easing into another game as I find my seat that is the usual birds eye view of home plate, and panoramic view of Philadelphia. The weather-perfect. The friends who have joined me-perfect.

Let's play ball.

You can read the sports writers play by play for a better description of the game, but for me it is one of those 'sit on the edge of your seats' evenings. Most notable are the tremendous diving catches in the outfield and breathtaking balletic outs at  the infield. Cody Asche at 3rd dives to stop a line drive in its tracks and later jumps like a basketball player with his arms stretched as high as he can to catch another.

Ben Revere

End of game 14th inning

A nice steal adds to the drama, and an unfortunate hit to Carlos Ruiz' head another. But of course the most tension filled parts of the game are the 5 extra innings that could go either way several times. The pitchers take charge and do their job, including Papelbon, ( who seems to have changed his entrance music to something even louder than before). There are many chances to be heroes to make that final hit to bring in the run, but the one most deserving for that honor is Chase Utley, who drives in a runner with a home run to right field.

 The final joyous score-Phillies 5  Marlins 3

But wait, the night (or morning by this time) is not over. The field is cleared, the lights turned off in preparation for fireworks.

To use a tried and true phrase: We are blown away.
These are the best choreographed fireworks I have ever seen, from bombastic to quiet, from patriotic to pop, the music and lights mesh perfectly.

Happy happy happy.