While I could talk about how the Dodgers won today’s game against the Mariners 8-3 (Kershaw striking out 12 in seven innings; Hairston driving in a career-high five runs), today’s game was notable for a different reason.
I’ve been to Dodger road games before, but today’s game was different in a really special way: the fans. Maybe it was because this was the Dodgers first trip to Seattle in 10 years. Maybe it was just interleague play. Whatever the reason, Dodger fans represented today, and in droves. It easily felt like (and I’m not exaggerating here) one third of the crowd was rooting for the Dodgers – and nearly all of those were decked out in Dodger Blue. Take a look at my photo to see what I’m talking about.
It even felt like a Dodger home game at Chavez Ravine: the eruption for Hairston’s three-run home run in the top of the first inning was so loud, my buddy who was late to the game thought the Mariners must have scored. There were beach balls rolling through the crowd. Numerous “Let’s Go Dodgers!” chants at key moments in the game. A standing ovation for Todd Coffey when he closed out the game, sealing the 8-3 victory. I even got to catch up with Dodger team photographer Jon SooHoo, who shared his admiration for Safeco Field before the game.
Throw all of this together, and it was easily one of my top five favorite games I’ve ever attended. The crowd was raucous, but good natured….clearly people were enjoying seeing the Dodgers come through the Pacific Northwest and were determined to celebrate the occasion, giving each other high fives, while recounting how they came to today’s game. In fact, while I was waiting patiently (yet out of reach) to get Kenley Jansen’s autograph on a ball during BP, a young kid in front of me offered to get Jansen to sign it after he had his signed. Who does that?
While today I was sitting in the box seats over first base, the real hub of Dodger fan activity were in the box seats over the visiting team’s dugout along the third base line. I’ll be sitting over there tomorrow, and can’t wait to see what’s in store for me and the other Dodger faithful at Safeco Field. For additional in-game reports, follow me on Twitter (@dodgerfan_net) and if you get a chance, check out a Dodgers road game – they’re something special.
