Savannah Bananas vs Party Animals at Yankee Stadium
I had been looking forward to seeing the Bananas and Party Animals at Yankee Stadium since I had gotten the tickets pretty much, since it would be my only time seeing the Bananas this season. As the weekend got nearer, the weather was looking to be not so great for Saturday’s game and I was prepared to be sitting in the rain in my poncho yet again. But Thursday at around 3pm we got word that due to the impending weather that the Saturday game was going to be pre-poned? (what is the opposite of postponed?) and played on Friday instead. I knew I could still make it but wasn’t sure about my friends as we’d be going with an 8 year old who would be in school. We worked everything out and made it happen though and made it to the stadium just before the pre-plaza opened at 3pm. Upon entering we were able to meet some of the Party Animals and Bananas, but because of the switch they were only out for 30 minutes and both teams at once as opposed to the usual 30 mins for one team and 30 for the other. But we did our best got to chat with a lot of Party Animals as they had nearly no lines because everyone was waiting for KJ, Derek, RAC or Jackson it seemed like. (We weren’t able to get to RAC or Jackson but did see KJ and Derek). After that we got some merch and were getting hangry so we opted to hit up the Hard Rock Cafe inside the stadium for some quick apps. They said we couldn’t leave until 5pm, and they meant it! At 4:53 when we tried to head towards the exit we were told we couldn’t because the players would be coming through. So we grabbed a spot by where they’d be walking by and gave everyone high fives as they made their way through. Well, except Split who saw I was decked out in pink and put his hand down. (Stilts also said by the 3rd inning I’d regret wearing all that Party Animals gear. I told him I wouldn’t!)
Then we made our way to our awesome seats behind home plate and settled in for the game! The Party Animals got off to a fast start, capitalizing on a trick play missed on the first batter and scoring 1 run in the first. Delano had 3 strikeouts in the first giving the Party Animals a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd, they scored another run, but RAC hit a Home Run tying it up and so that was a wash. We also had the Phantom of the Opera (aka Derek Klena) come in for one batter and record his first strikeout. In the 5th the Party Animals scored again (Reece Hampton was kicking butt on the base paths) Hey Stilts what was that about the 3rd? In the 5th the Bananas scored 1 after a couple of singles (one by Stilts!) and a Sac Fly from Oberst (who is on fire lately) after Cousin Connor pitched a scoreless inning to the Party Animals, assisted by a fan catching Andy Cosgrove’s foul out. In the 7th the Party Animals scored 2, but unfortunately so did the Bananas with a Trick Play Miss from Hampton (that really looked like he caught it from my eye at the game, but not so much on the replay) and a Home Run from Jung-Goldberg. Another wash there, still 2-1 PAs. No runs in the 8th and then it was time for Derek Klena to sing joined by… THE CAST OF ALADDIN ON BROADWAY (Genie!) and FIREWORKS!
In the 9th, the Party Animals were unable to score. Dan Oberst came up as the Golden Batter and had a looong out to left field, and then was up in his regular spot in the lineup and hit a homerun, tying it up. With 2 strike outs after, we were going to show downs!
First round of show downs proved to be confusing with the new “walk” rule – Hampton was walked twice but the Party Animals weren’t able to make anything out of it. Oberst was thrown out at home. Time for round 2. Swan was tagged out heading to 3rd. KJ Jackson strikes out. On to round 3… are we going to be here all night? Achuff struck out. DR Meadows comes up and was able to get 1 of the guys on base to score – Bananas win 3-2.
It was a good game in the end, even if it wasn’t the result I had hoped for. I’m am grateful for the day off in between as there was NO WAY I was going to be happy waking up for a day game after a night game (and it gave me time to rewatch the game and write this before the 2nd game!)
For game 2, we had Banana Ball Backstage passes and I opted to wear my new Bananas jersey to get it signed by Connor Harris. We tried to get into the plaza to meet some Bananas, but security was so slow that by the time we got in, it was almost time for the Bananas to head out. We went to Derek first as my friend’s nephew is into musical theater and he was the player he wanted to meet the most. Then I wandered around to see Party Animals. I was next in line for Bronny when his line ended up getting cut because he had to go. We waited for BBB and the elevator and ended up getting taken down early and got to see some rehearsals for a big number they were going to do – but fortunately ended up not spoiling ourselves on the big surprise that was being hidden by the bananas. My goal was to get as many bananas as I could to fill out my little worksheets… but I left with 7 Bananas and 15 Party Animals. The Bananas just all had such long lines and the Party Animals had nearly no one with them…
For this game we were even more centered behind home plate. Once again the Party Animals got off to a quick start scoring 2 runs in the first inning and quickly earning a point. In the 3rd, we got to see the number that they had rehearsed – only to find out that the singing was coming from BEN PLATT! In the 4th the Party Animals added another run and KJ did a walk up with Broadway’s MJ the musical. Party Animals also earned a point in the 5th and 6th. NFL Star Russell Wilson ended up coming out to pinch hit for the Bananas in the 5th but was thrown out at first. Maybe I was on to something with wearing my Banana jersey instead of a PA one…
The clock was ticking down and The Young Professor let us know that if the clock ran out in the 8th, then the 8th would become the final inning and every run would count. The Party Animals scored THREE runs. The Bananas came up and RAC hit a single, but then Dylan Porter struck out the side, consisting of Yankees legend Tino Martinez, Ryan Cox and Ty Jackson – leading the Party Animals to a SEVEN to ONE victory over the Bananas! It was the Bananas second loss of the season (not including the playoffs) and both had come from the Party Animals. The PA hadn’t won in quite some time and most of the players I talked to said they “needed it”. Also of note – Designated Runner Mark Smith got to have an at bat and hit an RBI Single which may have been the thing I was most excited about all game. Danny Hosley fouled out to a fan in the 5th. and TJ Reeves hit a Home Run in the 5th.
Don’t be surprised if I end up going against my word and end up at an NFL Stadium for the Bananas – but it will be BBB or Bust. Hopefully tracking down just 1 won’t be as hard as I think it will be đŸ˜‰ My next games will be in a couple of weeks in Tulsa OK – Tailgaters vs the Clowns! Looking forward to seeing the Clowns again and for my first Tailgating experience.