Game Day.....Stadium #5 New York Mets and the review of Citi Field

Had to do both posts together since I didn't have time from driving down from Boston and getting to NY at rush hour on a Wednesday......in an RV. The last 30 miles took us almost 2 hours to complete. Then with this game being a daytime game....NY Mets vs. the San Francisco Giants at 1:10pm, we were in a little rush in the morning.

Citi Field opened for the Mets on April 13, 2009 for the first regular season game. There was a college game and an exhibition game held 2 weeks prior to the home opener for the Mets. The stadium took a little over 2 years to build at a cost of $ 900 million. Citi Field took the place of Shea Stadium (1964-2008).

The stadium has had some renovations over the years. The first was the bullpens that were complete renovation after the 1st season due to obstructed views from the visiting clubs bullpens due to the Mets bullpen being directly in front of it. They also reduce the home run line in center field by 8 feet in an attempt for more home runs. Before the 2012 season, they did move in the wall from anywhere by a few feet to 25 feet in right center field. For the 2015 season the center and right center field walls were brought in another 15 feet.

One of the big features of Citi Field is the Jackie Robinson rotunda at the main entrance. The rotunda is a 160 foot diameter entrance that honors his life and accomplishments. Another is the Home Run Apple that was a tradition brought over from Shea Stadium. The new Home Run Apple is 4 times as big as the original and it rises everytime a Met hits a Home Run. The original Apple is located in the fan walkway up to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda entrance.

Some notable events that have happened at Citi Field:

*April 17, 2009 Gary Sheffield hits his 500th Home Run

*June 28, 2009 Mariano Rivera of the Yankees, recorded his 500th career save

*July 17, 18, and 21, 2009 Paul McCartney plays the first concert at Citi Field.

*August 23, 2009 Philadelphia Phillies Eric Bruntlett executed an unassisted triple play to end the game.

*June 1, 2012 Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in Mets history

*June 16, 2013 Citi Field hosted the 2013 MLB Home Run Derby and All-Star Game.

*January 1, 2018 Citi Field hosted the NHL Winter Classic the the NY Rangers defeated the Sabres 3-2.

Now the review of the stadium and the game. This was the final game of a 4 game series with the Mets winning the first 2 and the Giants winning the 3rd. The Giants had Anthony Desclafani (0-1) starting and the Mets had Carlos Carrasco (1-0).

We are staying in Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, NJ, so we had to take the subway to Citi Field. After a little figuring out about the fare ticket system (Very unlike the DC Metro system which we are used too) we were able to get to Citi Field after using a Light-Rail tram in NJ and then 3 different subway trains. The subway has an above ground train that has a stop right at Citi Field, literally a 3 minute walk to the stadium. Once we arrived, we entered the Jackie Robinson Rotunda entrance and were amazed by it. They had an eight foot tall number 42 and then his quotes and accomplishments etched in the flooring of the rotunda. Just simply amazing.

We also received complimentary tickets from the Mets and we had the most amazing seats so far. We were about 15 rows back from the field on the right side of home plate. The Mets offer delivery of your food to your seats (we did not partake). The food seems to be abundant and a mass variety available. Pricing again was similar with the other parks so plan on spending $$ on food and drink. We did not walk around the whole stadium, which I now would of like to of seem all the activities that they had in the centerfield and right field areas of the stadium. Very kid friendly.

First Pitch from Carlos Carrasco to Mike Yastrzemski (Grandson to the Great Carl Yastrzemski).

All the action happened in the 1st - 3rd innings with a little more in the 8th. The Mets got the scoring going in the bottom of the first with Lindor hitting a solo homer into the upper deck in right field. The Giants were able to tie it up in the top of the 2nd with a Crawford being hit by a pitch and then back to back singles by Flores and Estrada. After the run scoring single Mets pitcher Carrasco was able to set down the next 15 hitters before an error allowed a base runner in the top of the 8th. The base runner was quickly taken out after a double play inducing grounder.

The Mets would get 2 more runs in each of the next 2 innings with a solo home run by Eduardo Escobar (1st of the season) and a run scoring sac fly by Tomas Nido in the 2nd and then a 2 run single by Mark Canha in the 3rd.

Carrasco was able to pitch into the 8th inning for the first time in his Mets career and was just rolling along. An error by shortstop Guillorme allowed a runner to reach base for the first base runner since the 2nd inning for the Giants. The runner was quickly erased with a ground ball double play. It looked like Carrasco was going to get out of the inning and possibly pitch the ninth. With 2 outs, lead off hitter Yastrzemski came to bat and on a 3-1 count he was able to hit it of the upper deck facing for a solo home run. So after 91 pitches, Showalter decided to bring in the lefty Rogriquez to get the final out of the 8th.

The Mets were able to get a run in the bottom of the eight with a walk, bunt, and then a RBI single by Nimmo. Coming up in the top of the ninth the Mets brought in Edwin Diaz to finish off the game and he did with 10 pitches.

Carlos Carrasco got the win with his 7 2/3 innings giving up 4 hits, 2 runs, walking none, and striking out 7. Giants pitcher Desclafani was credited with the loss in 5 innings giving up 9 hits, 5 earned runs, walking 1, and striking our 4.

What a beautiful stadium!! The views were great, seats were incredibly fantastic, and the food was excellent. Back to back home team wins for us so far on our stadium tour. The home teams now have a record of 2-3 during our trip. I would have to rate this stadium right there with Citizens Bank Field in Philly.