Opening Day
Yesterday was the Dodgers Opening Day vs. the San Francisco Giants. What an opening day it was too.
First off, I left early in the morning with my son to get there with plenty of time to spare to eat breakfast at the Vietnamese and Chinese restaurant named Phơ Broadway. We discovered this place last year when we went to Opening Day 2008. Its just a little place on 942 N. Broadway in Chinatown not far from the Stadium. Its so close in fact that when Seth and I first ate there last year it was a walk away from the ballpark.
The food was delicious and its always nice to see my son not being too finicky these days with new foods and he really enjoyed his meal. He ordered steak with egg noodles and I got myself duck with rice noodles. I love thisplace and wouldn't mind eating there again before some more games this season.
After eating we made for the stadium and parked to hurry up and see who was signing in Autograph Alley and try to get a new signature for out baseball. We stood in line for nearly 90 minutes and missed opportunites to get Derrel Thomas, Steve Yeager and Ron Cey, but we did get Steve Garvey's autograph within minues before he got up to leave! Whew! I'm so glad we could add his name to the ball. I took a video snippet with my camera. The durn camera's flash doesn't work so I didn't take any still photos.
After the autograph signing we hustled all the way from the centerfirld wall through the lot to get to the reserve level deck where are steas are. We made in plenty of time to fetch some refreshments and take our seats to watch yet another fantastic opening day ceremony. I love when the Dodgers go all out to treat the fans to something special on this day.
The festivities began with 150+ servicemen from the Navy & Marines staning in the outfield. After the Giants were introduced and booed by many in the stands the Dodgers were introduced and the starting line-up took the field from the stands amongst the fans as their names were being called. A first for the Dodgers and very special moment for those fans in those sections. After the line-up was called out onto the field the fireworks exploded and the servicemen unfurled the giant American Flag on the outfield while standard bearers brought out the flags of many nations to line the grass near the infield. A lovely Star Spangled Banner was sung by an artist I'm not familiar with followed by a flyover from the Spirit jet then explosion of streamers from the stands and the releasing of doves from the outfield. Simply amazing!
The first pitch was thrown by Vin Scully who was given a blue carpet treatment after being introduced for 60 years of service as the Dodgers radio and television announcer. He trhew a strike to Joe Torre who caught for him. A special honor indeed. I love you Vin, many years have I listened to your voice as I grew up a Dodger fan.
Yet another historical landmark was set at Dodger Stadium with a record sell out crowd of 57,099. The largest ever in the history of the ballpark!
The game began with a bang when Orland Hudson hit a homerun in the 3rd inning after singling in his first at bat. The 4th inning had the Dodgers scoring 6 big runs to break the game open with Ethier hitting the first of two homeruns in the game which was a solo shot with 1 out. His second was a 2-run dinger off of Hinshaw in the 8th with 1 out. Manny went 1 for 2 with 2 walks.
Orlando Hudson was the star of the game as hit for the cycle which was the first time a Dodger had achieved that feat since Wes Parker in 1970. It was also the first time in Dodger Stadium history for a Dodger player to hit for the cycle. I can't believe how incredibly lucky it was for myself and Seth to witness such a grand achievment. This is the second time I have seen any player hit for the cycle. The first being Guzman of the Washington Nationals in Nationals Park while they routed the Dodgers in that series.
The Dodgers finished the game winning over the Giants by a route of 1-11. Chad Billingsley pitched a very strong and confident game with 11 strikeouts and no walks with only one earned run. Thank you Chad!
Thank you Dodgers for a fantastic time at the ballpark. Thank you Chad for pitching a dominating game. Thank you Orlando for a memory that will be cherished for years to come! Thank you Ethier for adding to the excitement with your 2 dingers into the stands! Thank you Vin for being the voice of the Dodgers for 60 years and Torre for being a great manager!
First off, I left early in the morning with my son to get there with plenty of time to spare to eat breakfast at the Vietnamese and Chinese restaurant named Phơ Broadway. We discovered this place last year when we went to Opening Day 2008. Its just a little place on 942 N. Broadway in Chinatown not far from the Stadium. Its so close in fact that when Seth and I first ate there last year it was a walk away from the ballpark.
The food was delicious and its always nice to see my son not being too finicky these days with new foods and he really enjoyed his meal. He ordered steak with egg noodles and I got myself duck with rice noodles. I love thisplace and wouldn't mind eating there again before some more games this season.
After eating we made for the stadium and parked to hurry up and see who was signing in Autograph Alley and try to get a new signature for out baseball. We stood in line for nearly 90 minutes and missed opportunites to get Derrel Thomas, Steve Yeager and Ron Cey, but we did get Steve Garvey's autograph within minues before he got up to leave! Whew! I'm so glad we could add his name to the ball. I took a video snippet with my camera. The durn camera's flash doesn't work so I didn't take any still photos.
After the autograph signing we hustled all the way from the centerfirld wall through the lot to get to the reserve level deck where are steas are. We made in plenty of time to fetch some refreshments and take our seats to watch yet another fantastic opening day ceremony. I love when the Dodgers go all out to treat the fans to something special on this day.
The festivities began with 150+ servicemen from the Navy & Marines staning in the outfield. After the Giants were introduced and booed by many in the stands the Dodgers were introduced and the starting line-up took the field from the stands amongst the fans as their names were being called. A first for the Dodgers and very special moment for those fans in those sections. After the line-up was called out onto the field the fireworks exploded and the servicemen unfurled the giant American Flag on the outfield while standard bearers brought out the flags of many nations to line the grass near the infield. A lovely Star Spangled Banner was sung by an artist I'm not familiar with followed by a flyover from the Spirit jet then explosion of streamers from the stands and the releasing of doves from the outfield. Simply amazing!
The first pitch was thrown by Vin Scully who was given a blue carpet treatment after being introduced for 60 years of service as the Dodgers radio and television announcer. He trhew a strike to Joe Torre who caught for him. A special honor indeed. I love you Vin, many years have I listened to your voice as I grew up a Dodger fan.
Yet another historical landmark was set at Dodger Stadium with a record sell out crowd of 57,099. The largest ever in the history of the ballpark!
The game began with a bang when Orland Hudson hit a homerun in the 3rd inning after singling in his first at bat. The 4th inning had the Dodgers scoring 6 big runs to break the game open with Ethier hitting the first of two homeruns in the game which was a solo shot with 1 out. His second was a 2-run dinger off of Hinshaw in the 8th with 1 out. Manny went 1 for 2 with 2 walks.
Orlando Hudson was the star of the game as hit for the cycle which was the first time a Dodger had achieved that feat since Wes Parker in 1970. It was also the first time in Dodger Stadium history for a Dodger player to hit for the cycle. I can't believe how incredibly lucky it was for myself and Seth to witness such a grand achievment. This is the second time I have seen any player hit for the cycle. The first being Guzman of the Washington Nationals in Nationals Park while they routed the Dodgers in that series.
The Dodgers finished the game winning over the Giants by a route of 1-11. Chad Billingsley pitched a very strong and confident game with 11 strikeouts and no walks with only one earned run. Thank you Chad!
Thank you Dodgers for a fantastic time at the ballpark. Thank you Chad for pitching a dominating game. Thank you Orlando for a memory that will be cherished for years to come! Thank you Ethier for adding to the excitement with your 2 dingers into the stands! Thank you Vin for being the voice of the Dodgers for 60 years and Torre for being a great manager!