All Stars!

Two years ago when they announced that DC was getting the All Star Game in 2018, I knew we had to go, which meant we had to get season tickets of course. The long awaited Summer Classic finally came around, and how could it possibly live up to expectations? Well to start, we didn't just have All Star Game tickets, but also tickets for the Home Run Derby, FanFest, the Legends & Celebrities Game, and the Futures Game. I was actually most excited for the Home Run Derby, but I couldn't convince Owen, and he was more excited for the All Star Game itself.

We couldn't quite manage all the activities together, so Grandpa Don took Owen to FanFest, and we gave the Legends & Celebrities Game and the Futures Game tickets to Brad & Marlo. But when the All Star Workout Day (aka Batting Practice and the Derby) rolled around, we were ready. The Derby lived up to expectations and then some. Bryce Harper fulfilled his promise of entering the Derby with his dad pitching to him in front of the home crowd, so we had a real rooting interest. He even wore a DC flag bandana!

The rules for the Home Run Derby are simple, hit as many HR's as you can in 5 minutes, and if you hit two further than 440' you get 30 bonus seconds. In the first round, the #8 seed Rhys Hoskins beat the #1 seed Jesus Aguilar 17 to 12. Then the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber knocked out Alex Bregman 16 to 15 with Bregmen's last ball just missing tying it up, and Max Muncy out dueled the Cubs' Javier Baez 17 to 16 match with just a few seconds to spare. That brought up Bryce Harper against the hated Brave's Freddie Freeman, and Harper easily won 13 to 12 with loads of time left.

In the second round Rhys Hoskins crushed 20 home runs, and we didn't think Kyle Schwarber had a chance, but he caught fire after a time out and blasted 21 home runs winning the match with a blast to the upper deck as time expired. Then Harper easily made it to the final beating Muncy 13 to 12 with lots of extra time, setting up our dream match up (with lots of opportunities to text Sam about the Nats v Cubs final).

In the finals, Schwarber started to tire, but still managed to hit 18 balls out of the park, and Bryce would have to put on a show to win it. Harper started out slow, and then his dad started having trouble throwing strikes as his arm started to tire. Things were looking grim with Bryce down 9 home runs with just 50 seconds to go, then Bryce turned it on. Home run. Home run. Home run...in the crowd, we were all on our feet, tension growing. Home run. Home run. Home run. Screaming, we could feel it, but would there be time? Home run! Home run! Time about to expire...Home run!!! He hit 9 home runs in his final 9 swings, tying it up at 18 a piece as time expired, and 30 bonus seconds still to come. This was the most electric we'd felt the crowd at Nats Park since Jayson Werth's walk off home run in game 4 of the 2012 NLDS. In the final 30 bonus seconds we all knew what was coming, and on his second swing he sent a blast into the night. Fireworks, confetti, streamers! What a night!

After the excitement of the HR Derby, even Owen had to agree, the All Star Game itself, while quite an exciting game, couldn't possibly live up to the excitement of the previous night. No complaints though, the memories will last a lifetime :-)

(click here for all the pictures)