Running the Bases with Alexandra Shloss: Game #52 Yankees at White Sox, August 21, 2012

The game I am about to tell you about is one of the most special ones I've ever been a part of in the history of special games. My brother Neville's favorite team is the Yankees, and my least favorite team is the Yankees, so it has been a tradition for the past five years for us to go to a Yankees game when they're in Chicago. Last year I took him to Wrigley when the Yanks came there. This time was even better. You'll see why soon enough.

Well, one of the reasons it was cool was that I got to meet a bunch of White Sox guys!

Here's me and Nate Jones. He's really been an effective pitcher this year.

Here's Mr. Perfect Game himself, Phillip Humber.

Now here is where it get super special.

My mom was adopted, and it is only in the last couple months that she has been able to track down her birth family. One of her nephews sons, Mark, wanted to come visit us.

I have two cousins, one I have seen probably twice in my life, and another one who is really great but I haven't seen much since we were kids. If I was going to pick the perfect kind of person to be my cousin, it would be Mark. He's fun, thoughtful, hilarious, and he loves baseball.

He had flown in earlier in the day and he, along with Neville and Veronica, met me at the Sox game. It was the first time I had ever met him, and I liked him immediately.

Here's Mark.

And my brother Neville.

Another thing that made this day special was that my sister Mary, home on leave from the Marines, was the Plumbing Council's Hero of the Game. That meant that they gave us some free seats (and let us purchase the rest of the seats at a discounted rate), and during the third inning, Mary was brought on the field and they honored her with a short biography. Almost my entire family went, which is a VERY big deal, as I have nine siblings and several siblings-in-law---and, of course, now Cousin Mark. My mom hates baseball, and I have begged her several times to go, but she always refuses. Now, because Mary was being honored, they agreed.

Here's my sister Chloe and I before the game.

Here's Mary.

And Mark again!

Before the game, I got to meet one of my White Sox heroes, Frank Thomas, as he was there as a television commentator.

Mary got to meet White Sox reliever Addison Reed on his way to the bullpen.

Here's Frank again.

The matchup was Francisco Liriano (recently acquired from my beloved Twins team) against Ivan Nova.

Here's A.J., my sister Veronica's favorite.

Gordon

Derek Jeter led off the game with a home run. The Yankees have beat the home team every game I have taken Neville to, and I feared this HR did not bode well for my Sox.

In the same inning, Swisher, Texeira, and Jones all reached base, and Granderson's groundout sent Swisher home. The Yankees took a first inning 1-0 lead.

The bullpen is still relaxed, though.

Here I am with Mary!

Here's my brother Isaac and Mark discussing beer, probably.

I was a little sad to see the sparse crowd. Usually for Yankees games you have to pry your way to your seat with a crowbar. I didn't understand why people weren't supporting their first place White Sox!

You can see Nick Swisher, far left, with the big hair. We loved him when he was in Chicago. He's my brother Neville's favorite Sox player ever.

In the bottom of the second, Alex Rios tripled, and A.J. sacrificed to bring him home, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Here's my sister Mary on the field.

Everyone applauded. The White Sox players came up from the dugout to give her an ovation.

Here's me with her in the background. Cheeseball picture, but cool.

Coach McEwing gave her a ball.

The entire crowd rose to its feet for her. This is one of the coolest things I have seen any park do to honor servicemen, and the White Sox fans always display their gratitude.

Here's my niece Ava!

This is my brother-in-law Nathan.

Neville and family.

In the bottom of the fourth, Paul Konerko homered to tie the game.

My mom (and my sister Jennie looking bored in the background--she wasn't bored. She came all the way from college in central Indiana to come to the game.).

The Sox also gave Mary a goodie-bag. Inside the bag was this ball, autographed by several White Sox. One of the signatures was from my favorite all-time player, Robin Ventura. So I stole it. But she stole it back.

Sister Jennie. Now excited.

Sister Veronica and Ava.

Southpaw enjoying the game.

Ava and Nathan enjoying the game.

In the bottom of the fifth, Alexei Ramirez doubled.

Beckham walked.

Ava is really getting excited now.

DeWayne Wise singled. Now the bases were loaded.

The players conferred.

My brother Peter is getting pretty pumped.

Ava is really excited!

Well, Kevin Youkilis went ahead and hit a grand slam!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sox lead 6-2.

Here's my family at the game!!!!

Me begging for a photo with my mom.

My brother Peter

Me and my mom. Seriously, I never thought I'd get her to a game.

Mark and me.

Chloe and my mom. She doesn't like loud noises, and there were a lot of loud noises. But she still had fun.

Me and Chloe

Brother Peter and sister-in-law Courtney

Ava and Nathan

Veronica, Ava, and Nathan

My brother and mom

Me and Neville

My mom thought this sign said, If it happens in baseball, it happens in Nigeria.

The Yankees kept it dramatic. They got a run on a Martin home run in the seventh. The Sox tried to answer back. Beckham singled, and then he reached third when Wise singled. But no one scored.