Florida Spring Training, Day 3

Double header day! Today we headed to Bradenton for game 2 and home of the Pirates spring training to see them take on the Red Sox. It was about 45 minutes away and we got there early to check out the batting practice. The Sox were up. The wind was kickin and they were flying outta the park! We headed to our seats after being told we couldn't stand where we were watching batting practice.

We were up first base line in the bleachers. It really seemed liked we were at a Red Sox home game. Fort Myers, where the Sox call home is apparently always sold out and tickets on the street are super expensive so there fans follow them around. Ortiz hit a bomb in the top of the first, a 2 runner. It was one of 4 homers in the game. It was a great game! Tied 6-6 going into the bottom of the 7th. Pirates knocked in 2 and the Sox grabbed 1 in the top of the 8th with the Pirates knocking in one more in the bottom. Sox got on base but left them stranded. Pirates won 9-7.

It was a beautiful day, sunny and in the mid 70s. With the crazy winter we've had it some how slipped my mind how quickly and easily I burn. I put sun tan lotion on my neck and for some reason thought that'd do the trick. Oh man was I wrong!
My arms were roasted just as bad! Luckily it didn't take full effect until that night. We had another game, our first Phillies game!

Game 3. We got to the Phillies park, Bright House Field in Cleanwater in time to catch some pregame activities. We grabbed a beer and walked around the park. We had separate tickets for this game. One right behind home plate and one on the berm in the outfield.

The game started and dad headed to the home plate seat and I to the berm. The view wasn't all that great.
Obviously the sun/camera effect doesn't show the complete truth. I could see the game and what was going on. Inning and a half goes by and dad shows up, grabs all the stuff on the ground and says I got you a seat come on. I follow. He started chatting with the guys next to him and it ends up there is a group of 5 retired guys that have season tickets and he just happen to buy the one available right in the middle of them. Turns out one of them couldn't make it and they couldn't sell the ticket. It was right front of dads seat. The guys were very nice and the one to my right was from Bristol, TN. He was the head football coach at Tennessee High School for several years! We had a nice little talk but they left in 6th so dad and I got seats next to each other. Time to relax.

Got a ton of compliments on the shoes! :)

Unfortunately the Phils had an awful game! One hit and it didn't come until the 8th ending! They lost 2-0.