Myrtle Beach Pelicans game

[JCStone57]

Well me and the wifey went to the Red Sox - Pelicans game tonight. Jose Ortegano pitched for the Pelicans tonight and did fairly well had a no-no working until the 3rd. Wifey and I sat on the visitor's side behind the 1st dugout. We got there as the gates opened and ate some good ole ballpark hot-dogs for dinner and started in on the $1 beers.

After I finished my dinner I went over to the side of the dugout hoping for some autographs from players as they came out. I was there with about 4 others (all wearing Red Sox gear) who just yelled out "HEY." The first that I saw was UNC-alum Benji Johnson who was catching tonight, I called him by his name (because if you don't they won't come by and sign the autographs cuz they're the road team). Benji signed the ball and I asked him if Kevin Gunderson is still talkin' about the 2 College World Series they took from Carolina and he laughed and he said "Yea, but I throw basketball back in his face."

Shortly after I saw Jose Ortegano, the starting pitcher for the night walking by and again I called out Jose and he came over and obliged. After Jose came and signed my ball there was an older gentleman wearing a Braves cap who came along and sat down and we started talking and asked how I became a Braves fan, I told him that my grandmother lived in Athens, GA while she was alive and everytime I visited we always went to a few ballgames. He was a nice guy who knew his stuff, while we were talking Freddie Freeman and Cody Johnson were warming up not to far off, he saw my ball and pen and said "if you want some autographs worth something I'd ask for that #12 Freeman and that big boy Heyward when he comes out." I said that's who I'm hoping for and we sat there and talked Braves for about 25 minutes, which was cool because he just moved to my area about 6 months ago and he was partaking in his first A-ball game (Roanoke, VA style).

After the players warmed-up Cody Johnson began walking towards the dugout and I yelled his name and he came over and signed my baseball, I thanked him of course and the old man I was talking about asked about the fire in Myrtle Beach recently and he said the most awesomest line ever "with the way you're hitting I'm surprised you didn't start the fire." Cody, me, and the old man started laughing in just one of those cool holy shit moments.

After Cody left, me and the old man were just shooting the shit, Freddie Freeman began to walk towards the dugout and I called his name and he came over and signed my ball. Like last year when I spoke to Tyler Flowers, I told Freddie he had one hell of a spring he said thanks and I thanked him for signing my ball and he said to me and the old man "enjoy the game;" which I thought was pretty cool.

After that I saw Matt Kennelly, who I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for Preacher's MiLB analysis. He came over and signed my ball and I told him thanks and told him it was awesome to see the "Next Aussie Wonder" and he started laughing and said "I guess Moylan is the first eh" and I laughed and said yeah. I also told him to send Heyward out here because he has some fans who wanna see him and he said "No worries, eh" and walked off.

Mind you, all this happened before the game... Here's the ball that I had and the respective players autographs:




On to the game, the lineups were announced and Jason Heyward wasn't playing and of course I said my few explicatives... but in a surprise move, Heyward coached 1B the whole game.

Me and wifey were initially sitting behind the dugout but there were some annoying college guys who were trying to heckle the Pelicans and my wife can't stand them because she thinks its disrespectful so she left after 2 outs in the 1st. The two guys persisted on Freddie Freeman making fun of his smile on the scoreboard and after he grounded out to first, I got up to join my wife and I said to them "have you seen his contract? I'd be smiling too" and of course in true fashion it was followed with the "yeah, uh" comeback.

The Pelicans jumped out ahead 1-0 and Jose Ortegano was dealing until the 3rd and he gave up a 2-run shot to the Red Sox SS. Later in the game the same Red Sox SS lined a shot to Cody Johnson in RF who dove and missed it and the ball rolled to the wall for an eventual 2-run inside-the-park HR and the Red Sox won easily 6-1.

After the game I tried yelling for J-Hey but he walked in the dugout and so we left. During the game we tried to get pics of the game and here they are:

Just some patriotism:


Jason Heyward - 1B coach:


Cody Johnson lacing a 1B to CF:


Cody Johnson leading off 1B:


Jose Ortegano pitching:


Freddie Freeman holding a runner:


Quentin Davis:

[mike]

Awesome stuff man and thanks for sharing. I am going to use some of this for the site if you dont mind.

[imfletcher]

sounds like a great night at the park...

[JCStone57]

Originally Posted by mike

Awesome stuff man and thanks for sharing. I am going to use some of this for the site if you dont mind.

Nope I don't mind

[fan4ever]

Great read and pics, JC...thanks for sharing!!