The action was up close and personal at the Chicago Blues Festival
The 2013 Ballpark Tours trek is in its third day – and it was one filled with variety. As always, our tour operator left us plenty of time to soak in the local culture. For BBRT, it was a stop at the Art Institute of Chicago and the 2013 Chicago Blues Festival – both within easy walking distance of our hotel (The Palmer House Hilton). Saw four solid Chicago Blues Rock bands at the (free) festival – highlighted by Liz Mandeville and the Blue Points and Brother Jacob and his Blues Crew. Also had a chance to be assigned a “Blues Name” (based on your initials) for a mock “talent pass.” I got “Old Bones Smith.” And, the opportunity for a free Blues Festival poster with your own image. Great fun, all part of the typical Ballpark Tours experience.
Your own “blues name and poster” … all part of the 2013 trek experience.
Wrigley Field again the star attraction.
Later in the afternoon it was back on the subway/el to Wrigley for another Cubs/Pirates matchup. Sunny day, decent upper deck seats (no really bad seats at Wrigley). We saw the Pirates’ A.J. Burnett dominate the Cubs most of the game. In fact, when Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle let Burnett bat (weakly) in the bottom of the eighth, we thought we were going to see an increasingly rare MLB result – a complete game shutout. (Not so rare on the Pirates, who lead all of MLB with ten shutouts.) After eight innings, Burnett had a 6-0 lead, having given up just two hits and three walks (with five strikeouts). After one out in the ninth, he faltered giving up a single to Cubs first sacker Anthony Rizzo and a long home run to center fielder Alfonso Soriano before being relieved.
The game offered plenty for the fan. The Pirates’ third baseman hit a truly out-of-the-park two-run homer (his 13th of the season) that landed on Sheffield Avenue beyond right field, while Pirates’ catcher Russell Martin hit his 100th career (and seventh 2013) round tripper to left. There were also a handful of good defensive plays including a catch in the outfield ivy by Pirates’ right fielder Travis Snider, a tough diving catch by Cubs’ right fielder Nate Schierholtz and infield gems by the Pirates’ Pedro Alvarez (3B) and Neil Walker (2B). History was served as the Cubs’ giveaway was a Hall of Famer Ernie Banks flag and Ernie himself led the seventh-inning rendition of “Take me out to the ball game.” All in all a great day to be at the ball park.
Tomorrow, it’s off to Appleton, Wisconsin for some minor league action.
