The Chicago Cubs and My First MLB Game Pt.3:The Unforgettable Contest!

Here it was.

The anthem had finished, and for a split second everything went quiet in the stands—everything went numb in my body.

I was shocked at the moment of silence because I am sure it wasn’t the first time the vast majority of those fans were at a game, but that small immeasurable act of silence is a grand example of that little kid inside each and every one of us; standing out in left field waiting for the neighbor kid to stop striking out and hit the stupid ball.

The game was always new no matter how old I thought, incredible.

The commencement of the first inning had begun, and first to the plate was the same man I had sat directly behind; the same player who I SWORE looked back into the sea of red and afforded me a quick nod as if to say: “ I see you in there, thanks for being a fan my man.”

Well, there’s nothing wrong with being an idealist is there?

There’s no way the Phillies could win tonight I thought. How could they? We had Carlos Zambrano on the mound for crying out loud; the man in two games was sporting a 1.32 ERA with 12 SO and only 1 HR, far better than that other guy on that other team.

How soon we forget the cruelty of the game.

I looked around and seared at each red shirt that caught my discerning eye. I defied the ‘smack’ my friends were trying to serve and deflected any attempted burns with comments like: “Who’s in third place right now?” and “Brett Myers, isn’t his ERA somewhere in the vicinity of washed up and underachiever?”

My counters worked, but only for a short while.

The first pitch to Soriano—Alfonso had a penchant for hitting dingers to left field and I thought that perhaps I would get even luckier and catch one.

I heard a crack, a soaring high fly ball to left field and it hooks towards center and into the glove of Victorino for out number one, and for Soriano a near miss for the game’s first score.

Oh well.

Next at bat is none other than Kosuke Fukudome who had a hot start to that year, he takes the 1-1 pitch, and that’s a popup to second for out number two and just like that the Cubs are in a two-out hole for Derrick Lee.

Lee steps in and takes a long and patient at bat before swinging at a 2-2 pitch that SCREAMS IT’S WAY TOWARDS LEFT FIELD, IT’S GOING, HERE IT COMES AND IT’S GONE!

A solo homerun and the Cubs take a 1-0 lead.

The crowd DOESN’T GO WILD, but I certainly do!

Who knew that Ramirez would add to the excitement slamming a 1-1 pitch deep into left that hooked to center for run number two and just like that, my Cubs were on top two to zip!

Daryle Ward would ground out next to end the inning, but the damage had been done and my hopes were higher than the two balls that sailed over my head, and for the next two innings the two teams would slug it out in a stalemate.

It all changed in the fourth.

Chase Utley would single followed by Ryan Howard who singled down the third base line forcing the out at second, and then it happened: Pat “The Bat” Burrell drives a two run shot to left and ties the game up, and as quickly as I enjoyed the 2-0 lead, it faded away into a tie.

Now the crowd went wild, as I slumped into disbelief.

The next inning wasn’t any better with Zambrano walking the “Flying Hawaiian” Shane Victorino, and Gregg Dobbs hitting a double that scored Victorino. The Phillies were now on top 3-2 and the crowd was swiftly turning against the few Cubs fans—it was getting harder by the moment to endure.

In the sixth, Soriano hits a deep line to left field on the first pitch and within the blink of an eye the game is all tied up again, and all the hopes of winning that were turning stale began to flavor up a bit.

The fans by this time didn’t care what the score was only that Myers gave up another run, and they were calling for his head. But the inning was far from over, and it would be the most entertaining of the night.

Howard would hit a line drive double to left followed by Pat the Bat who hit a double to right scoring Ryan. Jenkins grounded out leading way to Carlos Ruiz who blooped a single to right scoring Burrell and the game is now 5-3—I had to do more than stretch at this point.

I ran and reloaded one more time on beer—one place left thank god, and for a moment realized my night was coming to a close.

It was a disheartening feeling. It was such a short time ago that I had just arrived and now it was almost time to leave. “Nuts to that I gotta get back.” I thought.

I made my way back post haste—can’t miss a moment.

The Cubs took the field and just like that they were gone, three up and three down, I didn’t even get a chance to finish my beer. For the remainder of the game the two would slug it out (pun intended) and one flyball, three stikeouts, and eight groundouts later the game had ended.

The night had come to a close, and the experience that I had waited for, for so long, had finally come to fruition, but alas, all good things must come to an end.

The ride home was filled with game recaps that would’ve made both Harry Kalas and Harry Carery proud, of course I also took the brunt of the jokes but it was all good.

As the jubilation died down and turned swiftly into silence I utilized the remaining moments in the car to reflect on the night.

Plastered from ear to ear was a smile that was indelible from the moment I got into the car at around 5pm, to when I walked into my door after midnight; I suspect I also woke up with said smile as well.

April 11, 2008: The memory of a lifetime, the experience of a lifetime, the battle of a lifetime and the unforgettable contest that will be with me until my very last breath.

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Thank You all for taking the time to read and leave your feedback, and journey through this wonderful memory with me I appreciate it very much!