First Astros game of the 2013 season- 5/2/13

After spending Spring Break in Kissimmee watching the Astros in Spring Training, I couldn't wait for the season to begin! Although our team was going to be young, and made of players I didn't really know, watching their drive and determination during ST made me realize that things were going to turn up. I was fortunate enough to be able to watch opening day at home since it was on ESPN and they showed me exactly what I was expected to see following ST!

Of course, school had taken over my life the month of April and beginning of May because I was trying to finish up with test, projects and finals. I had already made plans to attend every home Astros game during my 3 week summer vacation at the end of May, but then I read the best news of the season, other than the Opening Day win. Jordan Lyles had been called back up and was going to pitch the next day. Anyone who knows me is well aware that Jordan is my favorite Astro as of late. I mean I did have to get a picture with him and his autograph on my jersey during ST!                                                                                            

                   

So naturally, I had to go to Minute Maid Park and support him on his first game back! Of course, it had to be the day before finals started. Luckily, my two finals the next day were made up of all old test questions and I had already been studying, so there was no issue!

So Mallory, Sara and I were off the our first game of the 2013 season and one of our first AL games we had ever seen in MMP. We have always wanted to sit in the Crawford Boxes and fortunately for us, with such small crowd attendance lately, we were able to get some seat! And a new gym bag thanks to Methodist Hospital!

We had some time to spare before the game started so I thought it was only necessary to go shopping at the team store and walk around to see the changes to MMP. I have to admit that I was a little sad when the Astros changed colors, mainly because I hate the color orange, but I did love how the new coat of paint brought new life to the stadium! And their other color is blue, which of course is my favorite, so I can deal with it! The store had so much stuff I wanted, like always  but I settled for an update to my phone case with the new Astros logo!

After waiting an hour for the game to start, it was finally time for Jordan and the rest of the Astros to take the field! The first inning started off great for Jordan. He had two strike outs to start the inning and then a fly out. Things continued to look great the next few innings with some great pitching and even better fielding from the outfielders! Jason Castro hit a home run in the first and I could see right away there was an awesome chance Jordan could get his first win of the season!

Jordan ended up coming out of the game after an awesome night. He ended up with a 5IP, 2R, 6H, 1BB, 6K line. That even left him with a good chance for the first win of his season and the first win in a few days for the Astros. His fastball was pretty efficient  but it was his curve ball was on fire that night. I was starting to witness the Jordan Lyles that I came to love as a player and he was starting to solicit his spot back in the rotation. Unfortunately for him, we ended up having to play 14 innings and so both wins were stripped away for him and the Astros.

Although we didn't win, I could see the fight and passion that all the guys have on the team. It may be a bumpy ride this season, but with all the hustle that come out of these guys, I must say that games at MMP are much more exciting than they have been the last few seasons! Now lets just hope for a better ending outcome as I attend games at the end of this month!