The Astros lost in extra innings to the visiting Oakland A’s. Shortstop extraordinaire Adam Everett broke his leg and will be out four to eight weeks. Jason Jennings was pulled after four innings and 74 pitches with the game tied 3-3. Seemingly every child under the age of 11 in Houston was in attendance at the sold-out game. Did this equal a bad day at the park? Hells no. It was a blast. There really is nothing like an afternoon at the park to cure the workingman blues.
My friend – let’s call him Bill since he was playing hooky from work – grew up in the Bay area and is a huge A’s fan. He, like the A’s, had never been to Minute Maid Park. When Oakland showed up on the Astros home schedule, we knew we had to go. Problem was they were playing a Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday series. Fuck it. We’re taking off from work. Day trip! Just the boys.
We arrived at the park at noon (an entire hour before the game started) and still didn’t get our free Chester Charge shirts. This would be the only bummer of the day. After leaving the Shed (the home of the ‘Stros merchandise) empty-handed – they didn’t have the fitted cap I wanted in my size – Bill and I decided to take a leisurely stroll around the park as the A’s took batting practice. He remarked how much it reminded him of the Giants’ AT&T Park, but with a retractable roof to keep the pesky heat and humidity out. The roof was closed, and it was a comfortable 75 degrees inside the Juice Box.
Next up: food! I split an order of surprisingly tasty chicken tenders and fries with Bill and had a Coke, while Bill decided to get an early start and ordered a 24-ounce Miller beer. We both remarked how much better beer tastes at the ballpark. Even beers I’m not incredibly fond of – like Miller and Bud. Later on we split an order of delicious nachos. I, of course, managed to get a little cheese from the ‘chos on my prized J.R. Richard St. Patrick’s Day throwback jersey. No worries though, it all came out in the wash.
The game – which could have been a pitcher’s duel between the A’s stellar Chad Gaudin and Houston’s Jennings – was full of action from the top of the first with the A’s putting up a three-spot before the Astros even came to bat. It was an exciting game, and the beautiful park served as a peaceful sanctuary where I let my worries and anxieties go and focused solely on the slow drama unfolding in front of me. It didn’t even bother me that it took 30 minutes to get out of the parking garage following the game. Minute Maid, I’ll be back before you can say “Fire Tim Purpura.”
This article appears in June 15 • 2007.