Well the day had finally arrived, Opening Day.

It started to feel like it had been forever since the last regular season home game I got to attend at the grand ‘ol ballpark, but it was here and I was happy.

The game was a 1:05 start and the gates were set to open at 10:00, so there was not much time to rest and enjoy the off-day in the morning. I had to get moving!

I was attending this game with my friend Dirk and he came and picked me up at my house at 9:00. We stopped at Taco Bell on the way and grabbed some burritos to take in to the park with us, went to will call and got the tickets, and made it to the left field seats at around 10:15.

Too bad batting practice wasn’t going to start until 10:30. Meh.

We found a spot we felt was going to work for us, so we put our bags down and got out our gloves and cameras.

Here’s a picture I had Dirk take of me before batting practice started….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

….and here’s one of the centerfield offices….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once batting practice got underway, this was the view to my right….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The view to my left was so much worse I didn’t even want to take a picture of it.

While the Rangers were hitting the Blue Jays came out into the outfield to start throwing, and I took a picture of my favorite Jay, Scott Downs….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those that may not know, my daughter Sarah and I had a pretty cool encounter with Mr. Downs at a game last season.

You can read that entry here.

The Rangers took BP from 10:30 to 11:10, then the Jays hit from 11:20 to 12:00. During the Rangers’ portion there were not many homeruns hit our way, nor were there players tossing balls into the crowd that had found there way to the warning track.

The Blue Jays’ portion was completely different. It seemed like every other ball was a homerun that came to left field. It was so much fun, the only problem was how crowded it was. Moving was nearly impossible, and Dirk and I were on the first row. But Dirk had some more device opportunities in the visitors’ bullpen, and I was able to pull one up myself. It would turn out to be my only ball of the day and #2 on the season.

After batting practice concluded we made our way to our seats to get ready for the pregame festivities. This was the view from our seats….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the pregame activities started this was displayed on the video board….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh yeah!

I wanted to take photos of some of the players during the introductions, but my camera doesn’t zoom too far, so I waited until both teams had been announced and took this one….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I usually stand pretty still during the national anthem, but I couldn’t control myself and took this picture before it ended….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

** One observation: At least they felt it important enough to turn the lights on for a 1:05 start. It was rather cloudy, but still, lights? **

I also snapped a photo of the flyover by some F-16s….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there was a paraplegic veteran that parachuted out of a helicopter and delivered the ceremonial first pitch ball to Roger Staubach….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s Roger in the jeans and Nolan Ryan in the suit. Ian Kinsler caught for Staubach who threw a chest high (standing up) strike.

Finally, the moment had arrived. The first pitch….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…. that was taken for a strike, which we all know means the Rangers are going all the way this year. No? Maybe it’s just me then.

The game was great from the start if you’re a Blue Jays fan, if not, it was brutal.

Scott Feldman gave up a two-run homer in the first to Vernon Wells, and a solo shot in the third to Aaron HIll which put Toronto up 3-0. Meanwhile, the Rangers didn’t even have a hit until the bottom of the seventh. 

As for the bottom of the seventh, that’s when new Ranger Vladimir Guerrero stepped up to the plate to lead off the inning. Now, you’ll have to forgive me because I don’t remember the exact count, but a couple of pitches before Vlad got the Rangers their first hit, he hit a mammoth foul ball. By mammoth I mean, third level, even with the top of the foul pole mammoth.

Yeah, it was amazing.

To top it off, it looked like he barely even swung the bat!

Once Vlad got the first hit, it seemed like they just kept coming after that. Nelson Cruz stepped up with two men on and proceded to hit a three-run homer to tie the game at 3-3.

In the top of the eighth young Ranger reliever Neftali Feliz gave up the go ahead run to put the Rangers behind 4-3.

By the bottom of the ninth Dirk and I had already found different seats along the first base side, where we got to see Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit the game-winnng RBI single, and watch the players rush the field….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great way to end a great day, Rangers win 4-3.

Now if only the rest of the season could be like this!

Time of game: 2hrs. 36mins.

Attendance: 50,299

Next Game: Not 100% sure, but probably Sun. 4/25 vs. Detroit