Another Day, Another Game

We woke up on Sunday (now over a week ago, sorry this has taken so long to get written!) and started getting ourselves ready and packed up to head downtown for the game.  Sunday games are early and we wanted to be sure to get the giveaway (we shouldn't have worried).  The hotel breakfast was a bit underwhelming--Carter and I had waffles, Jacob and I had yogurt, and the eggs and sausage were a bit funky so we only had a bit of that.  We went to a Starbucks down the road to supplement, and then it was on into the city.  We parked a bit down the road in a ramp close to where we've parked before.  It was really too soon to get lunch ahead like we did last time so we figured we'd eat a bit at the game and then maybe get a good meal elsewhere after to make sure Jacob was well-fed.  

 We wandered down to the stadium and there was a whole setup on the road there.  As we grabbed a spot in the line to go in (with still probably a half hour until gates opened) we noticed a bunch of mascots wandering around, so Carter and I ran over.  He got to get his picture with the Pirate Parrot, who also attempted to eat his head after this picture was taken (but I missed that exact moment)...

...and Jalapeño Hannah!

We got through gates just fine, and Carter got his stuffed Sauerkraut Saul plush pierogy.  It's so cute...but alas, too big to complete our beanie pierogy collection--we had a smaller Saul magnet we got at one of our first games, and then subsequently bought all of the slightly larger beanie ones at additional games.  But because we had the magnet we never got Saul, and now we can't get one that's the beanie size--they have been perpetually out of stock.  And this new one is giant in comparison!  But it's so well done!

Our next stop was the team store to drop off Jacob's jersey to get fixed.  Then, since we didn't get much of a chance to walk around in the crazy heat last trip, we made sure to do it this time.  It was still a hot day, but the humidity was much better and it was still at least 10 degrees cooler, so it was much more tolerable.  Our seats ended up being in the sun, so it was sweaty but much more manageable.

I love this view of the Clemente bridge and skyline from the outfield walkway.

I actually just found out this weekend that there's a little grassy area just off to the left of this picture, outside the gates, with a bunch of giant numbers that face the water.  I think they may be the retired ones.  I guess we'll have to make a note to check that out next time!  

 

Craig got a picture of the boys with one of the giant bobbleheads, too.

Down at the other end of the outfield walkway was this measuring thing--check your height in balls and bases!  Just more confirmation that Jacob is definitely over six feet, even taking into consideration his shoes.  Our doctor consistently measures the boys short and we have no idea why.  We know from comparisons to Craig, amusement park measuring devices, and our own attempts at home that they're taller than what the thing says at the office.  So odd!

After a walk around, Jacob's jersey pickup, and some initial food acquisition (for everyone except me--I needed to decide), we headed to our seats in time for the game to start.  They had a decent view and a good chance for foul balls.  One landed one section over, just about even with us.  So close!

My main criteria is still being able to easily see the scoreboard, so I approved!

It was a Miracle League game so they had heavy involvement from the local players--a variety of differently-abled folks who got to stand with the starters for intros.  One even got to sing the anthem and another sang God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch.  The anthem singer definitely had some off-key notes but I give him a TON of credit.  Oddly he was still better than the embarrassing, horribly-sung, off-key anthem at the All-Star Game Home Run Derby the previous week that was sung by a professional singer who later admitted she was drunk.  The God Bless America singer was great--nothing fancy but generally right on key.  They did an amazing job performing in front of so many people, and the joy on the faces of those participants and their families was so wonderful to see.

Speaking of joy, these games are one of the few times all is right with the world for our family--those are genuine smiles right there!

The game itself was a rough one.  The Pirates couldn't get anything going at all.  The main highlight, as usual, was the Pierogy Race, which of course Saul won on his big day.

The Pirates ended up losing 5-0.  It stunk, for sure.  After the game we walked out to left field for the endless Kids Run the Bases lineup.  I got this picture of the boys while we waited.  Christmas card fodder, right there.
 

I love the top of the climbing apparatus out there.

And this Willie Stargell pop art is the coolest!

The actual running of the bases was a bit frustrating this time.  They don't want people stopping to take pictures and I was struggling to get anything.  I did catch this one of Craig and Carter as we walked on.

I couldn't get anything as he ran because I was trying to zoom in with my real camera and couldn't find him as I was trying to walk--and he was really fast!--but Craig got this one afterward.

We took our time getting back out of the stadium, and then debated our dinner options.  We went to the van and had second thoughts just as we started driving, so we moved the van down a level and walked across the way to Burgatory, where we ate pregame last time.  Unfortunately they had a 40 minute wait, which we did not have time for given the long drive home, but that actually might have been fine because the only alternative we came up with was driving about 20 minutes out of the way to Wahlburger's.  It wasn't that out of the way for the trip home, but still.  The food was good, but it was around that time we heard about Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race, so there was a whole lot of watching the TVs with interest while we were there.  After that we hopped back in the van and started the long trip home.  Better weather and no COVID this time, at least.  Craig inexplicably drove the whole way.  I offered, but I guess the timing was weird--he drove to get out of Pittsburgh and I could have driven once we did a bathroom and snack stop outside Erie, but he waved me off and then we didn't stop again until we needed gas and a bathroom break around Hamburg.  He again drove the rest of the way, probably because I'd been nodding off.  I think I could have done it, though.  Oh, well.  He was a champ.  We got home well after 11, I think, so it had been a very long day, but a fun one aside from the game outcome.

Overall, not bad for a last minute weekend trip.  I wish we could have done more--and I swear, one of these times we're going to do some touristy stuff and maybe a college drive-by or two--but it was a nice little weekend diversion, for sure!