D6: Dodger For A Day
Today, I witnessed one of two things: The start of an incredible come-from-behind NLCS championship run by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were down 3-1 in the series against St. Louis, or the final game of the season at Dodger Stadium.
First pitch, game 5, 2013 NLCS.
The Dodgers are now down 3-2 and head to St. Louis for games 6 and 7. If they pull this off, they will be one of only five teams to make the World Series after starting a championship series down 2-0, since the Division Series round was added to baseball’s postseason in 1995.
As a Pirates/Mets fan who enjoys Dodgers games and becomes a fan when those other two teams aren’t in the picture, it was a great game to attend. Perfect weather. I finally got to see Yasiel Puig walk to the plate to his chosen walk-up song, “Yasiel Puig,” hit a single, make a couple great plays, loaf in right field and whine at the plate on a called third strike. The full package. There were also four home runs and a heart dropping almost comeback by St. Louis in the 9th. (Especially for my baseball writer friends who booked their redeye flights to St. Louis in the 8th.
Practicing my Terrible Towel motion with a bunch of blue-and-white fans.
But the best surprise happened in the parking lot. Halfway to my car, Bonnie and I parted ways and I faced the grim reality ahead of me: I wasn’t covering the game. I was a fan. Which meant I would be sitting in my car, in traffic, for the next two hours. But then, a ray of light. Two rays of light, came beaming from three spots over. Jen and Grace! Two of my favorite people, both of whom I am lucky to work with at ESPN. They were at the game, along with our friend Jason and two of their friends, and they had parked steps from my car. So we had a parking lot waiting party, caught up on life and they just generally made me smile. As they are known to do. I stole this photo from Jen on Instagram.
Parking lot party!
Thanks, Jen! And thanks, Bonnie! However the series turns out, it was a fun afternoon. But c’mon Dodgers! It’d be fun to do it all again next week.