It was the classic DC night at the ballpark—free tickets from my friend’s boss, the air a balmy 90 degrees, and the after-effects of fried happy hour appetizers from Recessions processing through my digestive system.  And the defending American league champion Detroit Tigers were in town!  Huzzah for the orange and blue!  Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks!  Everything fell into place at the old ball game.

Huge numbers of Detroit Tigers fans filled RFK Stadium, and the Tigers showed their ferocity (roar) by building up a 9-1 lead.  In the first 4 innings, only former Tiger Dmitri Young scored for the Nationals.  After the first run by Magglio “Mags” Ordonez, Carlos Guillen scored back-to-back runs, including a 4th inning homerun.  In a huge 5th inning, the Tigers saw runs from pitcher Mike Maroth, Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Gary Sheffield, and another from Mags!  Marcus Thames scored a homerun late in the 5th, giving the Tigers their final run of the game.

Throughout the remaining 4 innings, the Nationals slowly but steadily fought their way back into the game.  Cheered on by a mascot named “Screech” (but having nothing to do with Dustin Diamond, to my dismay) and 4 giant dead presidents, the home team launched a major comeback in the bottom of the 6th.  After Guzman, Lopez, Zimmerman and Young all scored on pitches from the Tigers’ Mike Maroth and Bobby Seay, we in the Tiger camp got a little anxious.

All remained quiet in the 7th and 8th, leading Tiger fans to ease up and Nats fans to start worrying about their premature excitement over a comeback.  But after the Tigers last at bat resulted in another scoreless inning, RFK Stadium got even hotter (though it seemed impossible).  In our section, Detroit loyalists heckled our hearts out, only to fear imminent beat-downs by the surrounding hometown crowd. And with late runs by Langerhans, Fick, and Guzman with no outs on the table, it almost seemed like the Nats would pull it off.  But they came up short and the Tigers eked out a hard-fought and closely won victory.  As I like to say, though, a win is a win.

The ambience at the park was highly enjoyable, buoyed by large groups of friends sitting in various satellite locations throughout.  The crushing throngs of sweaty sportsfans pushing their way into the Metro station looked a little intimidating, but my crew hopped on the bus and got back to our ‘hoods in no time.  I had a ball, and can’t wait to go back the next time one of my friends’ bosses offers up some seats.  Maybe I’ll even catch another Tigers victory tonight or tomorrow—same time, same place.