Grateful Dead Night at AT&T Park, by Chuck Strom

Last Thursday was Grateful Dead Night at AT&T Park. Before the game a cover band serenaded the fans from the top of the visitor’s dugout, and Bill Walton, the world’s most famous Deadhead, showed up to announce a $23,000 donation to Grateful Dead Charities. Lots of good feelings to be had, minus the scent of reefer that one would otherwise expect on the occasion. AT&T Park is a smoke-free facility.

The game featured the Washington Nationals, whose previous visit to San Francisco had led to their unfortunate ouster from last year’s playoffs. They were undoubtedly eager for payback, and it looked like they would get it when their third baseman Yunel Escobar hit the first pitch of the game into the left field bleachers. Though pitcher Ryan Vogelsong ended up throwing 29 pitches in that first inning, the Giants somehow managed to control the damage and play their classic brand of baseball for the rest of the game. They got two runs off Stephen Strasburg in the bottom half of the first despite his 96-mph fastballs, then they made the lead hold up with four more stressful innings from Vogelsong and a lights-out performance from the bullpen. The latter began with Hunter Strickland striking out his first two hitters on six pitches.

It was a badly-needed win for the Giants, who are close behind the Dodgers in the National League West despite a rash of injuries and losing four straight to the Cubs at Wrigley last week. If somehow they can survive August, there may finally be an odd-year October for the men in orange and black.