1-0 Lightning Strikes Twice

Following Saturday evening's 1-0 nail biter at Citi Field, what would be in store for the Harrisburg Senators Fan Club's first 2015 road trip on Sunday? The Nats had been blanked for eight straight innings; the Mets for nine consecutive. Plus the Mets shut out the Nationals 4-0 Friday night.

Very little scoring, but big time baseball drama this week in Queens. And that's what we saw by the time we arrived at the ballpark.

We weren't the only ones arriving late due to the NYC traffic snarls. That meant the game was starting yet security lines were lengthy. Fortunately, folks with children and anyone without a bag could jump the line. However, it didn't take long for the security line to shrink for the others. (I tip my Senators cap to those burdened by this huge responsibility. They took it in stride and remained pleasant throughout their encounters with fans.)

Once inside I peered onto the field from the open concourse. From the time I settled into my seat, I felt a more intimate ballpark than I'd expected.

Sure, it's big. But Citi Field is mostly tall. I expected the huge video boards to appear farther back from the outfield fence. The field played smaller than a big stadium should.

From Section 125 the action easily unfolded before us and 41,000 others. The Shea Bridge provides uniqueness to the outfield backdrop.

The large Citi Field logo is visible both inside and out. Mindy appreciated that the batting team lineup and stats always remain on the left video board; the defense and pitching stats on the right.

On the heels of our last Fan Club trip (Jordan Zimmermann's no-hitter to close the curtain on the Nats' 2014 regular season, we witnessed no runs at Citi Field. Ryan Zimmerman's 1st inning broken bat flare scored the only run of the game.

Not that we minded. Every pitch was meaningful. Both teams had opportunities, pitched extremely well and played good defense. The Nats stranded both 1st & 3rd one inning and bases loaded in another -- both with no outs -- yet Mets' pitching miraculously worked out of those jams.

It was good to see the Mets faithful respond to the team's early 1st place effort. The atmosphere nearly felt like playoffs to me, which added to the excitement.

Of course many former Senators saw action, including three relievers that Matt Williams paraded from the pen following Doug Fister's stellar 6.1 IP. Tanner Roark got two key outs; Aaron Barrett K'ed the only Met he faced to end the 8th; and, Drew Storen closed the door with a perfect 9th.

A Washington team hadn't won two straight 1-0 games since "Senators" displayed across their jerseys. However this game had turned, it was bound to be a classic, especially on the heels of the previous night's 1-0 contest.

Runs? Overrated

Since the DH debate has been boiling over yet again, let me start by saying that no one will ever convince me that baseball is a 9-and-a-half player game. That DH game may be called something, but it isn't "baseball" to me.

One of the main reasons why we must suffer this aberration of the game was lack of offense. Well, guess what? In many games, there's still a lack of offense. And guess what again? I'm perfectly fine with that.

I'm a big fan of crisply played, well-pitched 1-0 games. (Hey MLB, you want to trim time from games? Not many fans will be riveted to a 3.5 hour, 12-5 mopping with nine walks when pitchers can be replaced (or not) at will.

I don't care how long a 1-0 game takes to play. Baseball allows me to forget about the clock for a spell. Every pitch can change the outcome. Base running, moving runners and bunts matter. Every play in the field is magnified.

That's the game the Harrisburg Senators Fan Club enjoyed yesterday on our first ever trip to Citi Field. Due to the five-borough bike race street closures, we missed the only score in the top of the 1st. MLB Network provided the highlight(?) late last night as Ryan Zimmerman's broken bat blooper over 1st scored Jayson Werth.

Good teams seem to score runs this way more often than lesser teams. The Mets have been doing it this year. So have the Astros and Cards. In fact, St. Louis swept the Pirates this weekend in tight, low-scoring affairs on hundred hoppers, infield hits, bloop doubles kicking up chalk, and then finally a power display walk-off by Kolten Wong.

This time, it was the Nats' turn. Two consecutive 1-0 classics, Saturday evening and Sunday, both where the only run scored in the 1st inning. The rest of the games developed with all on the edge of their seats, many standing in key situations, including us yesterday.

More to come on our trip and why the DH would have ruined this game, but remember: if you ever feel the need to convince me that the DH belongs in baseball, you can save your writing/debating prowess for another topic. Because in my math, when it comes to baseball, 9 never equals 9.5.    

Cinco de Mayo

If you don’t speak Spanish, we aren’t talking about a whipped condiment. We’re talking about the next meeting of the Harrisburg Senators Fan Club.

Following our Sunday, May 3rd trip to Citi Field to see the Nationals and Mets wrap up their weekend series, we’ll gather Tuesday, May 5th for our first in-season meeting.

I don’t mean to throw you a curve (I never really could!), but we’ll start at 6:30 PM at Shugar’s Philly Deli, 316 Bridge Street, New Cumberland. Our usual spot has a scheduling conflict so the folks at Shugar’s were kind enough to invite us to try their new meeting room.

Our guest speaker will be baseball historian Ted Knorr, who will make a case for the best year in Pennsylvania baseball history. Order from Shugar’s menu if you please.

Oh, and you’re welcome to BYOB. Shugar’s offers bottled wine and refrigeration if you’d like to bring along your own bottled or canned beer.

One more note: please complete sales of your May Daily Number fundraiser tickets and send your stubs and payment before the end of April. This is very important for our accountability of all sold and unsold tickets.

We look forward to celebrating Cinco de Mayo with you and the Senators Fan Club! Bring an amigo or two to join our ranks.

Brian Williams

President

Road Trip!

During our March meeting, we generated a lot of interest for an early-season trip to the see the Nationals. That trip is now a reality.

Put on your travelin’ shoes and board the bus for Citi Field on Sunday, May 3rd. The Harrisburg Senators Fan Club invites you to join us to see the Nationals play the Mets in New York.

We’ll depart the Radisson/Perkins parking lot in Camp Hill at 8:30 AM. That will give us plenty of time to be part of the first 15,000 fans to receive a free MLB Network/Mets tote bag.

We’ll be seated in Section 125, which is just behind the outfield corner of the Nats’ dugout on the lower level. From here, we’ll enjoy the 1:10 start as the Nats and Mets complete their three-game series.

Following the game, we’ll head back to town with more baseball memories. (Another no-hitter, perhaps?)

We have limited space, so please call Jeanne Jacobs at 717-774-2730 as soon as you can commit to the $110 per person reservation. ($115 for non-members includes your 2015 Fan Club membership.) That includes your Wolf's Bus transportation and ticket to the game. We’ll also provide refreshments for the ride.


Brian Williams
President