We looked forward to our 20th stadium visit primarily because of the team the Chicago White Sox were playing at Guaranteed Rate Field: the Seattle Mariners! They have been on a winning streak, and their performance in Chicago did not disappoint!
On the way from our parking spot to the gate, several people asked where we were from. When we responded that we were from Seattle, they said in surprise that “they told us you wouldn’t come!” After about the third time, Brad turned to me and said “I’d just like to know who “they” are, and why they think we wouldn’t come!!”
Despite their surprise, Mariners fans did come. When we got to the gate, there were almost as many Rodriguez, France, Suarez, and Crawford jerseys as White Sox players’ jerseys.
Our Impressions of Guaranteed Rate Field
We arrived early at the park, so we wandered around outside the gates and found the location of the home plate from the original Cominsky Park. Since we still had time and were hungry, we stopped at a restaurant connected to the ballpark for some nachos and a Heineken Zero Zero. Of course, that meant I wasn’t as hungry for dinner. More on that in a minute.
Our Seats: We were in Section Box 129, Row 10, Seats 5 through 7, which were excellent seats! We watched the Mariners and their entourage and felt very close to the action during the game.
The Food: Brad and Ryan both had Cheesesteak sandwiches from the Steak Sandwich Stand, which was conveniently located right next to our section. They gave them positive reviews. Since I wasn’t hungry, I went straight for desert: the Rainbow Cone. This Chicago traditions includes slices, not scoops, of orange sherbet, and pistachio, Palmer House vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream in a cup or cone. It was a decadent treat, and perfect for a warm evening!
Non-Alcoholic Beer Review: I found two non-alcoholic beers at Guaranteed Rate Field. The restaurant where we had our nachos offered Heineken Zero Zero, and the concessions stands advertised Samuel Adams Just the Haze. It was great to have choices!
The Game Recap: 4 Home Runs for Housing!
Seattle took the lead immediately. At the end of the first, they already had five runs, including two on a double by catcher Cal Raleigh. While the White Sox scored 1 run in the bottom of the first, they struggled for the remainder of the game.
In the meantime, the Mariners hit four home runs for housing! In the top of the fifth, Cal Raleigh hit a single, followed back-to-back by right fielder Teoscar Hernandez. The Mariners now led the White Sox 7 to 1.
In the top of the 8th, Cal Raleigh hit yet another home run, bringing in two runs and advancing the score into double digits. Shortly after that, left fielder Dom Canzone hit a second two-run home run. By the middle of the eighth inning the Mariners led the White Sox 13 to 1.
In total, the Mariners added four home runs to our total, bringing in $804 from our donors! We thought we might match our record of five home runs in a game when designated hitter Mike Ford hit a ball hard into center field. Unfortunately for the Mariners, White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. made an amazing leap a foot or so over the top of the eight-foot outfield wall to catch the ball. While we would have loved to have one more home run, the Mariners certainly didn’t need it to win the game. They walked away with a 14 to 2 victory over the White Sox.
Up Next:
Tomorrow, we head from Chicago to Milwaukee. We will make a brief stop in Racine to have the F250 serviced and park our Airstream at the Cliffside Campground. Then, we’ll head to American Family Field in Milwaukee to watch the Brewers take on the Minnesota Twins.
