We moved to the concourse behind homeplate to watch the 9th inning, expecting to stand behind the last row of seats (the seat nazi's don't let you occupy empty seats even in the 9th behind homeplate) for 1 inning. The score was still 3-1 White Sox.
Jose Lopez was the first batter and he swung and connected....solo HR....it was now 3-2 with no outs. The next 2 batters were retired and it was up to Bill Hall. Well, since I prefaced this writing as a great game, you know what happened. Bill Hall connects deep to left field and the game is tied 3-3! All 13,000 fans at Safeco Field are going bananas.
Both teams had scoring opportunities throughout the extra innings. Our bullpen didn't allow a run, with rookie catcher Adam Moore behind the plate all this time in his first major league game as catcher. (After the game he said he never thought he'd catch the entire bullpen in one game...7 Mariners relievers pitched to the rookie catcher)
Shawn Kelly pitched the top of the 14th and afterward, we were up on our feet for the second 7th inning stretch of the ballgame. As the bottom of the 14th arrived, I mentioned how fortunate we were that this game started at 3:30pm since it was almost 8pm now (it would be after midnight
if the game started at 7:10pm) We were tired, but still loud. We might be here all night! One guy got aboard, then an out, then another out. Kenji Johjima pinch hit for Adam Moore and was hit and took his base. Two men on, 2 out, and Ichiro approaches the plate. (see photo at right) Ichiro misses the first pitch, lets a ball go by for 1-1 and then takes the next pitch to center field for the walk off single! What an amazing comeback! M's win 4-3!That's the game recap, but what about our autograph hunt? We got there 2 hours before the game and came up with 6 more autographs. Pitcher Daniel Hudson & catcher/bullpen coach Mark Salas from the visiting White Sox. From the Mariners I was finally able to obtain the auto of our closer, the DA, David Aardsma, and relief pitcher Luke French. I also got former Mariners pitcher and FSN commentator Bill Krueger and also from FSN, announcer Brad Adam.
