August 15, 2014 – White Sox 11, Blue Jays 5 – U.S. Cellular Field

2 big innings = 1 win

Umpires: HP: Tim Welke. 1B: Todd Tichenor. 2B: Clint Fagan. 3B: Tim Timmons.

Weather: 75 degrees, partly cloudy.

Wind: 8 mph, R to L.

T: 3:22.

Att: 22,739.

In front of a relatively sparse Friday night crowd, both teams’ offenses started off louder than the fireworks planned for after the game. The first two innings took well over an hour to play, winding up with the White Sox up 6-4. Toronto drew first blood in the top of the first off Hector Noesi, but the Sox responded with a vengeance in the bottom of the inning, scoring 5 runs on 5 hits and a HBP and knocking out Toronto starter Marcus Stroman before he could record the third out. Toronto battled back with 3 in the top of the second, keyed by Melky Cabrera’s two-run homer, but the White Sox added four singles and a run in the bottom of the frame.

Things quieted down for a while until the home team struck again in the bottom of the fifth, starting the inning off with six consecutive singles, followed by a wild pitch and a walk. Toronto reliever Todd Redmond was mercifully taken out before the White Sox had made an out in the inning, and the second five-run inning by the Sox were more than enough to put the game away.

Unbeknownst to me, this was “Country Music Night” at the game. Easton Corbin put on a decent-enough 20 minute show shortly before the game started, although I could have done without the constant country music ditties during breaks throughout the game.

Section 128, Row 33, Seat 13 – pretty much behind home plate, on an aisle (hooray!), lower level, although not as close to the field as my Wednesday seat at Wrigley (cheaper, however). U.S. Cellular is a decent place to see a baseball game in terms of amenities, although it certainly doesn’t bring much in terms of character or distinguishing features. The pork chop sandwich ($9.50) was quite good; the $4.25 soft-serve ice cream was cheaper than at Nats Park but not quite as good. As with Wrigley, the access via public transportation is excellent – less than 15 minutes on the L, take the bridge across the Dan Ryan, and you’re there.