6/25/2009 - PNC Park - MLB Ballpark #8

2009 Game #6 - Cleveland Indians at Pittsburgh Pirates

Final Score: Pirates 3, Indians 2

Hot Dog - 4/5

Great park, great game, great night.

We bought tickets from a guy out in front of the stadium.  He was trying to unload seats from his two no-show friends.  He threw in two Pirates hats and sold us the tickets at half price.  We sat next to him and his friends during the game (great seats, by the by, in the grandstand just past first base) and he told us about the Pirates and their parks.  A real friendly guy, just like everybody else we talked to here at PNC Park.

PNC is similar to the other newer, retro-inspired ballparks.  The concourse feels a lot like Comerica Park and Citizens Bank Park, with its exposed steel and airy openness (is that even a word?) that lets you look at the field from anywhere along the concession area.  What sets PNC apart in my mind is the view looking out.  Philly had no view to speak of, and while Detroit’s Rock City skyline was really cool as a backdrop to the ballpark, Pittsburgh takes the cake.  With the beautiful city (yeah, I never thought anybody would say that about Pittsburgh either), the bright, yellow bridges, and the vivid green of the playing field and walls… There’s something about it.  It’s got character.

Okay, enough waxing poetic.  After several minutes of CGI Pirate ships cannonballing each other on the jumbotron, the ballgame started, and it was a great one.  Two very good pitchers (last year’s AL Cy Young winner among them) pitched very well late into the game.

Runs were scored not only by the long ball (which I’m told “chicks dig”), but by speed and playing “small ball,” just like a National League game should.  It ended with a walk-off base hit for the Pirates… tres exciting.

Karyn was excited because we got to see another manager ejected.  I was more excited by the pierogi race and hot dog launcher (that makes two parks so far with hot dog launchers… I just don’t get it).  Oh, and it was free t-shirt night, so we scored more loot (since this is the Pirates’ park, I guess it would be called “booty”) to take home and sell on eBay.

All in all, this was a great night.

-Rich