The Baseball Trip 2013 / Day 5

Tuesday, July 9

Sad to say we will not be in Sheffield, PA, for the upcoming Fireman's Festival. Also, we will not be in attendance for the Gun Raffle in Chicora, Pa. You must be present to win.

Had a good breakfast at the Settlers Family Restaurant and started the 270 mile journey to Pittsburgh.

Random observation from Randy:
 My horoscope says I should not let my stubbornness get in the way of my enjoyment. My stubbornness is my enjoyment.

Light rain falls and the traveling weather is cool, in the low seventies. We take Rte 98 out of Batavia past  dairy farms and vineyards and broken barns.There's plenty of time to make the 7:00pm Pirates-Athletics game at PNC Park, so we take the drive through Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. Fifty or so miles of nothing but curvy two-lane blacktop domed by tall pines and birch. The Tionesta Creek, which is actually a very wide river, flows on the left all the way to, well, Tionesta.

Allegheny Reservoir in Allegheny National Forest

Bridge over Allegheny River

We took Rte 28 into Pittsburgh, from the north of town. The Pirates, who until recently were in first place, are playing another first place team - the Oakland Athletics. The Pirates are starting their young phenom, Garret Cole, and it should prove to be a good game.

Except that a thunderstorm is rolling into town and there's some nasty lightning in the area. At exactly 7:00, when the game was slated to begin, the grounds crew rolled out the tarp and covered the infield. The rain delay was one hour and forty-five minutes.

A couple of shots outside PNC Park:

The Pirates' Pedro Alvarez hit a solo home run about 425 feet into dead center to give them a 1-0 lead in the first. The A's Brandon Moss countered with a two run shot in the third, and that was it. A's win 2-1. Pretty good game, but the home crowd was not happy.

Sausage Race at PNC Park. Creepy, no?

More views from inside and around the ballpark:

 Houses on top of the hill across the river.

 Inside the back gate.

 Downtown Pittsburgh and The Roberto Clemente Bridge.

 Center field.

Down the right field line.

Favorite town names:  Java Center, NY
                                  Java Village, NY
                                  North Java, NY

Favorite signs:  Seldom Inn
                        Lick Magic Deer Attractant
                        Cash for Criminals

Random observation from Randy:
I'd really like to find out if they have mobile homes in Europe.

After the game it pours like hell. The drive out of town gives me a headache: night, rain, unfamiliar highway.
I hear Toronto flooded after we left. Spreading joy wherever we visit.

Tomorrow: Cleveland.