In the longest baseball game I have attended this season, the Florida Marlins beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 in 12 innings. For the third time this season, I witnessed the home plate umpire leaving the game. The first time the umpire left, I wrote that I had not seen an umpire leave a game since Game 1 of the 2003 NLCS. I am not sure why umpires are not getting along with Wrigley Field this year.

Lou Piniella and first base coach Matt Sinatro were ejected from the game for arguing an out call when Mark DeRosa slid head-first into first base in the bottom of the 9th. Fans littered the field with garbage and booed – an appropriate response from Cubs fans for such an egregious call.

Before the game, Nicole and I ate breakfast at Salt & Pepper Diner at 3537 N. Clark St. – just south of the Wrigley Field. While most restaurants are crowded and loud before a Cubs game, Salt & Pepper Diner had seating available about 45 minutes before game time. We could sit and order meals without the hassle of people bumping into us. Plus for entrees at $6 and pitchers of beer for $7, there aren’t too many places that are a better bargain.

After a long summers nap, we went to dinner at Twist A Tapas Café. The place was pretty empty for 9 pm on a Saturday night, but our food came out quickly. If looking for tapas around Wrigley Field, this may be your best and only option.

After dinner, we grabbed a drink in Sheffield’s Beer and Wine Garden (voted best outdoor bar by Citysearch). Sheffield’s has relatively cheap drinks and a $4 beer of the month special.