It is not very often that you attend a rain-shortened game but do not have to sit through any rain delays inside the stadium. Last night was this exception (even though there were three different rain delays).

The game between the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres started out with a delay before the first pitch was thrown. Even though it was not raining at 7 pm, the start time of the game was still pushed back from 7:05 pm to 7:40 pm.

Obtaining Tickets
The delayed game gave me extra time to search for a cheap ticket. At first, I was only offering $5 for a ticket and hoping to find a free one. However, I was unable to find a freebie after walking around Wrigley Field twice. Instead, I found a ticket broker I know and asked if he had a $5 ticket. He did and handed me an upper deck seat. With the stadium half full I knew I could sit in the first level, so I did not care where my seat was actually located.

The Game
Alfonso Soriano led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a home run – his 53rd career leadoff homer (and 21st with the Cubs), which ties him for second place with Craig Biggio. Ryan Theriot followed Soriano’s home run with one himself – giving the Cubs back-to-back home runs to lead off a game for the first time since April 27, 2000 and the first time the Padres have ever allowed the feat.

The second rain delay of the night lasted for four minutes after the 5th inning as hard rains started but immediately stopped. The third rain delay occurred in the middle of the 8th inning as a thunderstorm appeared to be over Wrigley Field. At this point, I met Nicole for dinner since the Cubs were up 6-3 and there appeared to be no end to the weather.

That decision was correct as the game was delayed for 58 innings before finally being called in the middle of 8th inning. This was the third rain shortened game I have attended. The other two occurred on:

1) September 19, 1997 at Wrigley Field. That game had two rain delays in the 4th and 5th innings that totaled 116 minutes.
2) August 4, 2008 at Wrigley Field. That game also had two delays – the first lasting two hours and 45 minutes when Nicole and I ended up going home and then were allowed back in the park (click here to find out why) to sit through another 39 minute delay before the game was finally called with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Post Game Dining
During the third rain delay, Nicole and I decided to eat dinner at Rockit Bar & Grill located on the corner of Clark St. and Waveland Ave. Rockit opened after Opening Day on April 28, 2009 in Tuscany’s old location. In an area where the crowds usually overtake the bars, it was nice to be able to have a sit down dinner after a Cubs game.