Last train to Trancentral

New York Yankees 17 v Boston Red Sox 13
Major League Baseball, American League
Saturday 29 June 2019
Played at London Stadium, Stratford

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So, in case you didn't hear. This was Major League Baseball bringing a regular, full, points counting game to Europe, specifically London, for the first time. Let us start with the Big Issue. What a poor show The Big Show has made with the beer. London's Mondo Brewing were even commissioned to brew a one off MLB branded Pale. Which you couldn't even buy in the stadium. (If anyone found it, prove me wrong). How did they come up with that idea?

Amstel on tap. Heineken on tap. Deuchers, looked like gravity. Read that again, Deuchers. How…? Why…? The fellas walking around with a coolbag strapped to their backs - "Ice Cold Beer, get your Beer Here" - bottles of Heineken. As I said. Capital P oor.

"Whaaaaat Phil, didn't they even make an effort?"

Well. One side of the outside concourse was Boston Branded. Those bars had Samuel Adams on tap. I couldn't really work out which one. Let's call it SAG, Sam Adams Generic. Anyway, fairly bland and gently malty, with nothing to come off it. Vienna Lager style. Bit of malt, boom, and that's the Ball Game. When I went to the tent to buy them, they had a handful pre poured. Sitting there in the shade of the hottest sun of the year. No mate. Not happening. I'll shovel over eight eye watering quid. For a freshly poured before my eyes one. Or there'll be some mincing off. I noticed at the Amstel & Heineken bars there were dozens of pre poured beers on the counters for the dribs n drabs of punters. No need.

Saving Grace was that the other side of the outside concourse was Yankee Branded. There, I was served a pint (freshly poured) of;

Lagunitas, DayTime IPA on keg at 4%. Not outstanding. But, a just what's needed beer. Hot day. First sip. Nice & cold. Floral hops filling in quickly. Get me the Crackerjacks.

I didn't see ANYONE queueing for Deuchers. I found a nice quiet no queue bar front (albeit at the other end of the stadium) for my Lagunitas. Obvs, I caused the queue at Sam Adams. While I insisted on waiting for a fresh 'un. But, elsewhere. Man. The Queues. Snaking.

MLB strapped the game as Old Rivalry New Ground. Not bad Kiddo. But, I'm going with the less snappy.

It was easier to buy a sausage than a t-shirt

The queues for both were ridiculous. But you basically could not get near Merchandise.

Two ludicrous six run first innings put us behind the clock immediately. As the innings dragged on. We got that reminder. We might have got the stadium. We might have got the eyes of the world on us. But, we ain't got the infrastructure. Announcements over the PA. Flashing images on the Big Screen. Check your train times. Not all trains run late. London. Is. Open. But. Our privatised public transport system is for shareholders not customers. Have A Nice Day.

The Sox had a six run seventh. And, deep into Rally Ball, they got the tying run on deck at one point. Full count. Two outs. Runners on base. Here we GO. This is what we've come for. As thousands of fans stream out in fear of missing their last train.

All told. A nice rhythmic game for us armchairers. The Yankees kick off with six runs in the first innings. The Boston starting pitcher, Porcello, only made 33 chucks. Five hits. Six runs. Get the poor sod out of there. Next Gentleman Please. And then, just as us less knowledgeables were contemplating. The Red Sox make it six apiece. Tanaka making 37 bungers. Four hits. Six runs. Off for your last train young man. Both teams used eight pitchers over the night.

A six run fourth innings for The Evil Empire put them 14-6 up. They stretched that to 17-6. Before that six run seventh rally for the Red Sox. Only us Bus Wankers could stay that late.

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