September 21, 2018 – Mets 4, Nats 2 – Nationals Park

https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/nationals-loss-ends-nl-east-title-chase/c-295556846

 

Attendance: 37,895

Duration: 2:57

Weather: 75 degrees, Partly cloudy

Wind: S 13 MPH

Umpires: HP: Holbrook. 1B: Segal. 2B: Wolf. 3B: Reyburn.

 

Section 321, Row E, Seats 8-9 – last 300-level section down the right field line, next-to-last row from the top

 

Jacob deGrom vs. Joe Ross = predictable outcome

 

Game notes – the visitors took a quick lead when Jay Bruce singled in Amed Rosario, who had reached second when Victor Robles misjudged his leadoff fly to center … Nats tied things up in the bottom of the 2^nd as Rendon drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a Soto single, and scored on Zim’s sac fly … the Mets answered right back with 3 in the top of the 3^rd as Ross gave up 4 doubles and a single, with one run being unearned due to Rendon’s error … Ross exited after 6 without allowing further damage, while deGrom in all likelihood locked up the Cy Young with 7 innings of 1-run, 3-hit ball while fanning 8 … Washington drew closer in the bottom of the 9^th when Turner led off with a double and scored on Rendon’s one-out single, but New York closer Robert Gsellman retired Soto and Zimmerman to end the game

 

Other – the concession lines continue to be ridiculously long and slow, a situation not helped by keeping several stands closed despite the large crowd, and by the staff’s tendency to ignore fans waiting in the “express” eCash-only lines

September 14, 2018 – Royals 8, Twins 4 – Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/salvador-perez-hits-walk-off-grand-slam/c-294683384

 

Attendance: 18,389

Duration: 3:15

Weather: 86 degrees, Clear

Wind: SSE 4 MPH

Umpires: HP: Cederstrom. 1B: May. 2B: Blaser. 3B: Scheurwater.

 

Section 311, Row G, Seat 14 – “Lexus Infield” section, second level, under the upper deck overhang, looking down the first base line

 

Game notes – Minnesota starter Jose Berrios struggled early, giving up a run in each of the first two innings, but collected himself to blank the Royals over the next 4 frames … Jorge Lopez, who took a perfect game into the 9^th inning in his previous start, scattered 5 hits over the first 4 innings, but ran into trouble in the 5^th after colliding with Hunter Dozier on a leadoff chopper, subsequently giving up RBI hits by Joe Mauer, Jake Cave, and Robbie Grossman before leaving with a left rib contusion … the Twins managed another run in the 7^th, but Adelberto Mondesi answered with a homer in the bottom of the inning … the 8^th saw former Phillie Ben Lively toss a scoreless top, while the Royals just missed tying the game when Ryan O’Hearn was thrown out trying to score from first with two outs on Jorge Bonifacio’s double … with one out in the 9^th, a double by Rosell Herrera followed by singles by Whit Merrifield and Mondesi tied the game and put the winning run on third … after the Twins intentionally walked Alex Gordon and deployed a 5-man infield, Salvador Perez fell behind 0-2, then worked the count full and blasted a hanging slider over the wall in CF to end the game

 

Other – picked up on a BBQ sandwich ($9.25) and Dunkin’ Donut Munchkins ($5.75) for a snack afterwards … spoke to one of the parking lot attendants right after I parked, which helped me have a somewhat easier time getting out of the lot post-game … still, the location markers in the lots (at least Lot A) are few and far between, making finding your car after dark a challenge

 

Viewed as a club-type section, the “Lexus Infield” area was disappointing. The concourse was covered but not enclosed, with air-conditioning only in the small team store and the George Brett Lounge (which requires a special ticket). There were a few out-of-the-ordinary food items in the bar area at the end, but otherwise not much in the way of food variety, and there were almost no tables. On the good side, the area was not very crowded, and concession lines were short.