Petit Sets the Record

The Giants celebrate after a 4-1 victory over the Rockies.

We attend a few games at AT&T Park every year. Normally we sit in the cheap seats (<$30) with a group, eat, drink, cheer, and have a rollicking time. Today three of us splurged on tickets in the Field Club section ($100-$140). Not only is the perspective of the game different, so is the fans' treatment. Waiters take custom orders, and security guards keep a close eye on who enters and exits.

The game was marked by Giants pitcher Yusmeiro Petit setting the major league record for consecutive batters retired:

In the third inning of a 4-1 Giants victory, the 29-year-old right-hander with a fastball that rarely touches 90 mph set the record by retiring his 46th straight hitter, with a strikeout of former San Francisco farmhand Charlie Culberson.

Along the way, Petit broke the National League record of 41 that had stood since Jim Barr of the Giants established it in 1972.

Two pitches after Petit broke Mark Buehrle's big-league mark of 45, the streak was over. Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles rapped a double to left, then scored on a Charlie Blackmon single, the only run against the Giants in their third straight victory.

We stayed well past the final out to enjoy the view. Everyone enjoyed the experience, and not just because the Giants won.

I fantasized for a few seconds about buying season tickets, but, after observing season-ticket holders leave in the eighth inning, realized that it's hard to maintain the euphoria over 81 home games (the economists call it diminishing marginal utility). But same time, same place, next year? Count me in. © 2014 Stephen Yuen