Kelly’s Favorite MLB Games Attended Games 7, 8 and 9

By Kelly:

Over the next month I will be doing a countdown of my favorite MLB games that I have attended. I am doing the Top 9 in honor of 9 Inning Know It All, plus baseball is all about the #9 anyways. In games 9, 8 and 7 I saw a rookie who has turned into one of the game’s premier power hitter and 2 all-time great Mariner’s pitchers doing something for the first time.

GAME #9 August 10, 2005 at Dodgers Stadium Phillies 9 vs. Dodgers 5

Of my top 9 games this is the only one where the home team doesn’t win. This was the first game I attended Dodger Stadium since I moved to Washington. This was my daughter’s first time going to a game at Dodger Stadium. She was 10 months old. Jeff Kent and Milton Bradley hit HR’s for the Dodgers. Derek Lowe started for the Dodgers and Brett Meyers started for the Phillies. Going into the 9th inning the game was tied 5-5. Then a 25 year old rookie named Ryan Howard came up to bat with the bases loaded and blasted a Grand Slam. He went on to win the Rookie of the Year that year and the NL MVP in 2006.

Fun Fact about this game: Jason Phillips played first base for the Dodgers and he is currently the Mariner’s Bullpen Catcher.

GAME #8 April 2, 2007 at Safeco Field A’s 0 vs. Mariners 4

This was the first and only Opening Day game that I have ever been to. Future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza was the A’s DH in this game. The Mariners scored all their runs in the 6th inning off of Dan Haren a All-Star in 2007. A sac fly from Raul Ibanez and a 3-run HR from Richie Sexson. This game was Felix Hernandez’s first ever Opening Day start. He went 8 innings, K’ed 12 and only gave up 3 hits. Up until his Perfect Game this was probably his best game he had pitched.

Fun Fact about this game: Jose Vidro had the Mariner’s first hit of the year. A single in the 4th inning.

GAME #7 May 22, 2009 at Safeco Field Giants 1 vs. Mariners 2

This game went 12 innings and it started with the first batter of the game, Aaron Rowland hitting a HR off of Jason Vargas. It would be the only run the Giants would get, in fact they only had 3 hits in the game. Randy Johnson started for the Giants and it was the first time he pitched in Seattle since he was traded on the trading deadline in 1998. During the 7th inning stretch the Mariner Moose was by us and he picked up Gracie (my oldest daughter) and danced with her. It was on the big screen. The game ended with Jose Lopez hitting a game winning single with the bases loaded.

Fun Fact about this game: Including this game the Mariner’s were in the middle of playing 38 innings and getting 31 hits, all singles.

In case you are wondering how I know or remember all these facts. I keep score at almost every MLB game I attend and I spend a lot of time on baseball-reference.com.