Better than a Rockies game?  Going for FREE on a work day Wednesday afternoon.  Yep, that rocks.  For the second time in 3 years, my company’s summer outing included a day game at Coors Field.  FAAAANNNNTASTIC!

Loaded up on frozen lemonade & nachos; Ash went with brew & dogs (traditional pre-game ritual).

Tough year thus far for the home team, currently 5th in the National League West (out of 5 teams).  So how’d we do?

Rockies hit 3 homers early to keep it tied through the 8th.  Ash & I were walking stairs to exit the stadium just as the Rockies came alive with 3 more runs.  Excellent timing!  I ducked in each time I heard the crowd roar.  Sweet ending!

Maybe the Rockies should invite me back more often – 3 wins in a row.  MAGIC 🙂

2014 (Jul) – Rockies 6, Padres 3

2014 (May) – Rockies 10, Mets 3

2013 – Rockies 10, Padres 9 (bottom of 9th homer)

2012 – A’s 8, Rockies 2

Batter, batter, swing.   Baseball season again — must be summer (ok, not quite…but it is May).  Snagged Rockies tickets via Groupon to Friday night’s game.  3 years in a row have watched BASEBALL at Coors Field – good streak to keep alive 🙂

Seemed fitting to invite my resident East Coast transplants to a Mets game.  Gotta say it really didn’t matter who the Rockies were playing.  Going to a ballpark is much more than the game – it’s about food, fun & sharing laughs.

Started with chili dogs & beer (Ash & Tom), followed by 2 bags of peanuts (lost the battle to Tom – 6 nuts short of success…lotta shelling & eating in a short amount of time – LOL>)…finishing off with cotton candy late in the 7th (Ash).

So how was the game?  FAAAANNNNNTASTIC!  Crushed the visiting New Yorkers 10-3.

Friday night in Denver, for the second night in a row the Rockies made quick work of a Met starter, this time Zach Wheeler as the Mets lose big 10-3.  

 

Wheeler lasted just 4 innings, allowing 7 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned walking 2 and striking out 1.  Trailing 7-1 in the top of the 6^th Curtis Granderson got to Jorge De La Rose for a two run homer (2) to make it 7-3.  The Rockies made it a laugher as they got to Carlos Torres for 3 runs in his 2 innings of work to close the scoring. 

Sports, food & friends – bestest combo ever.

best·est  bestəst/  adjective   1. the very best.

2014 – Rockies 10, Mets 3

2013 – Rockies 10, Padres 9  (bottom of 9th homer)

2012 – A’s 8, Rockies 2

Thanks to Colorado friend Annmarie, my weekend started early – Friday night tickets to the Rockies game!  Met up with Annmarie, John and fellow Louisville hiker Lisa near Coors Field for pre-game apps.  Great to see my hiking friends again.  After several weeks of run, run, running, enjoyed the change in conversation.

Casually walked over to the game in the 2^nd inning, where the score was already 8-2 Rockies – WOW!  (Coincidentally, my only Rockies game last year ended with the same score – but then, the Rockies lost by 6 runs.)  Being so far ahead, the four of us picked up where we had just left off…laughing & in great conversation.

Lisa & I shopped for Rockies caps as our game day shifted from sunshine to lights.  One lousy 7th inning later, the ballgame was tied up at 9.  Fully plugged in again, Lisa taught me the basics of how to score a game.  Surprisingly complicated.

Took a glance at the time & thought – please no extra innings tonite, I have an early hike tomorrow morning (sorry die-hard baseball fans).  Bottom of the ninth, Rockies are up to bat.  Nolan (something) comes up to plate & I call out to Lisa – this guy needs to hit a homer.  Nolan Arenado does just that – hits a homer and Rockies win 10-9.  How crazy is that?

Super fun start to the weekend!  Go Rockies!

DENVER — Friday night, the Rockies and Padres put Murphy’s Law to the test yet again, as the Rockies staked out an 8-2 lead after two innings, chasing San Diego’s starter from the field in the third, only to see their comfortable cushion disappear along with every ray of daylight dividing the two teams, as the Padres staged a five-run rally in the seventh inning to tie the game at 9.

 

Any sense of suspense, any threat of extra innings with a depleted bench and bullpen, and any hint of deja vu after losing in 12 innings Thursday night were banished when Rockies rookie third baseman Nolan Arenado led off the bottom of the ninth and drilled the third pitch he saw high into the left-field seats for his first career walk-off home run, handing a 10-9 victory to the Rockies.

 

Rockies-Padres game

bottom of the 9th homer – Rockies win!