I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day filled with lots of hugs and very little work! Mine was spent at Camden Yards. I know, you're SHOCKED!! The Orioles had a Mother's Day experience where you could throw on the field with your child before the game. Just to be ON the field was amazing. Here's the funny part. I can throw and catch a baseball...I've always been able to. I LOVE to do it. However, I haven't done it in probably a year. Because of this, I wanted to practice. One day with my husband, and the day before the game with my son. Since I don't get much time with my son, we were out there for a long time. When it was time to throw on the field, they gave us these squishy baseballs and at first everything was fine. And then a combination of exhausted arm and stage fright (the cameras started to come around) took hold and I could not throw the ball to save my life. I was telling my shoulder, arm, wrist, hand what to do and all four collaborated to take me down. Any skill I had went straight out the window. When I realized that this was not going to get any better, we decided to stroll around the outfield and just take in the sites. It was a magical, comical, and at times frustrating experience that I'm so thankful we took part in.
Then came the game. I was a little concerned when it started with the A's scoring 3 runs in the first inning!! Yikes. Thankfully, those were the only runs they scored and our pitcher settled in and our bats came alive. Not just alive, they exploded!! Five guys hit homers...one of them, Manny Machado, hit two, including an 8th inning grand slam. It was electric! What an amazing Mother's Day game. So thankful that this beautiful child of mine spent it with me. He truly is my heart.
Here are the requisite game pics :)
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| Mark Trumbo is new to Baltimore, but is quickly becoming an integral part of the lineup |
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| Chris Tillman and Matt Wieters...all warmed up and ready to go |
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| Tillman on the mound and ready to start |
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| Jonathan Schoop doing Jonathan Schoop things |
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| Chris Davis |
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| a perfect throw to Matt Wieters means... |
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| ...you're out at home |
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| Manny Machado watching the first of 2 HRs leave The Yard |
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| Schoop congratulating Pedro Alvarez on his contribution to the HR derby |
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| 24 year old Joey Rickard is quickly becoming a fan favorite...he's a lot of fun to watch! |
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| Adam Jones makes centerfield look easy |
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| Mark Trumbo |
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| Joey Rickard |
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| Ryan Flaherty |
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| Tillman left the game after 6 1/3 innings to a standing ovation |
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| Machado's GRAND SLAM trot...I love the ballgirl in the background jumping up to high five fans |
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| another Baltimore newbie, Vance Worley. To me, his delivery is kind of strange...but it seems to work for him |
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| when you hit 2 HRs, cameras will be in your face |
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| a decisive 11-3 victory...not a bad Mother's Day present! |
