After brainstorming plans for my 40th birthday last Thursday, I chose a trip to San Diego. I had yet to visit Petco Park this season and my birthday coincided with a bobblehead package giveaway featuring the Padres’ television announcers. The figure even features broadcast clips of Don Orsillo and Mark “Mud” Grant. I also drafted Friars stars Juan Soto and Manny Machado with my first two picks in fantasy baseball. Getting to see them live would be another fun feature of an evening in downtown San Diego.
After driving for more than two hours, Dorina and I were happy to reach the parking structure and stretch our legs. We entered the stadium and made our way to Gallagher Square beyond the outfield wall to obtain our bobbleheads and order ice cream. On the way to our seats, we passed through the historic Western Metal warehouse which has been incorporated into the ballpark.
Inside the converted warehouse are many plaques honoring San Diego sports legends including Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL and longtime member of the San Diego Gulls hockey club. We continued to Section 118 on the third base side of Field Level and watched Rich Hill pitch for San Diego. The 43-year-old pitched three strong innings before the Arizona Diamondbacks took a 3-0 lead.
Tommy Pham, recently acquired from the Mets, smashed a a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Catcher Gabriel Moreno hit a solo shot in the fifth. The Padres answered in the bottom half of the inning against starting pitcher Zac Gallen thanks to a double by Jake Cronenworth and Trent Grisham RBI single. Meanwhile, fans chanted for Ha-Seong Kim every time he came to the dish. The Korean rising star made a couple of excellent defensive plays at third base during the course of the game. He has also surprised offensively, collecting 17 homers and 28 stolen bases to go with a .370 on-base percentage.
We managed to score a pretzel and lemonade for free thanks to a concession stand that was about to close, but it was fun to chalk it up as an extra birthday present. The Padres attempted a comeback in the ninth inning by drawing two walks against Justin Martinez, but Cronenworth was called out on strikes to end the contest. The final pitch felt like a microcosm of a season gone awry for the Padres, while the Diamondbacks struck a blow to keep their playoff hopes alive. Gallen improved to 13-5 this season with a 3.17 ERA. The game took less than two and a half hours to play with each team collecting a paltry three hits apiece. The final score: Arizona 3, San Diego 1.
I perused the game-used memorabilia at Padres Authentics including lineup cards, autographed jerseys, and baseballs used in playoff games. When heading for the exit, I noticed what looked like Arizona relief pitcher Kevin Ginkel on the field chatting with a few people in the stands, but security waved me away when I tried to get closer.
Just for fun, we ended up taking a quick walk before a pedicab ride back to the car. It was enjoyable to take in the city atmosphere, even for a few blocks. There are no shortage of hotels for fans to choose from, whether the stately Pendry, the Omni adjoining the ballpark, or Jimmy Buffett’s very own Margaritaville.
The second part of my celebration took place on Friday at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. I have been a fan of the jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra for years and had only seen them live on one prior occasion in Malibu. However, I have attended several jazz concerts at this venue featuring David Benoit, Acoustic Alchemy, and Ottmar Liebert. On this night, saxophonist and band leader Jay Beckenstein mentioned that 2024 will mark Spyro Gyra’s 50th anniversary. Their 1980s hits like Morning Dance and Heliopolis sounded better than ever. The scene reminded me of a time many years ago when my brother commented that “it’s always Spyro Gyra” when I listened to music. Even though we live on different coasts now, I’m still smiling about the New York Rangers playoff game we attended together in April.
Beckenstein told a colorful story about the origin of the song Cockatoo and we rounded out our meal with apple pie a la mode. The band left the stage, then performed an encore before retiring for the evening. Thankfully, Dorina urged me to say hello to Beckenstein and bassist Scott Ambush. Both were very friendly, and Beckenstein even apologized for the short wait before he was able to pose for a photo.
Even when I’m not out celebrating, I have a lot to be thankful for in life. Baseball and music have given me a lot to smile about, but I am primarily grateful for my loved ones. Dorina made it a priority to show me a great time on both days. The previous week, I enjoyed an early birthday dinner with my parents and sister. It’s safe to say that the month of August has been very good to me.