The crowd at The Coke tonight was announced at 5,088 but I would put a bet on it being louder than any capacity crowd I’ve seen there. If the crowd was in the game, the IronPigs were rolling as they took game one of this best of 5 series vs. Pawtucket by a score of 4-2.
The Pigs used some small ball tactics in the first combining a Rich Thompson single, stolen base, bunt and Frandsen ground out into a 1-0 lead.
They added another run in the 2nd inning on an Erik Kratz line drive over the left field wall. (Jimmy T called this one)
In the 4th inning Brandon Moss Hogg hit what I see as the longest home run in Coca Cola Park history. The former longest HR was hit by Andy Tracy smashing the lower neon lights on the Service Electric sign. Moss’ shot cleared that sign easily by 10 feet. Estimating the final distance of the HR, by my calculations, that ball was hit 463 feet. (Horizontal distance + (elevation * 1.2))
Freddy Galvis also hit his first AAA HR into the trough right in front of the Noise Nation to put the Pigs up 4-2.
Dave Bush made the start tonight, earning the win and the hearts of IronPigs fans. He lasted 6.2 innings and left to a standing ovation. Bush allowed 1 run on 5 hits (the run was a solo HR), struck out 6 and walked just 1.
Savery and Aumont earned holds and Justin DeFratus came on for the save.
***
While the crowd was one of the smallest at this park, the fans were unbelievable. Cheers all around to our fellow Pig fans! We earned a playoff win supporting this team for better or worse and that worse has become better!
Game 2 will be held tomorrow. Ryan Edell for the Pigs and Tony Pena Jr. for the Pawsox.
OinK!!!!!
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
We would have had a rough night if the sox didn’t leave all those men on base. It had to be at least 10 LOB
Agree 100%. In the 4 years, that was the loudest, most electric crowd ever. I was not there for the 17k game, which I heard was loud. And the HR by Moss was the longest I have ever seen there.
POG: Sox left 9 on base. BUT, I can tell you as someone who sits behind home plate, there were two runners who reached when they should have been rung up. Two others on bad plays, which Bush and Overbeck will tell you they should have made. Throw in Aumont giving two gift walks, Sox were lucky to just get those runners on.
GREAT NIGHT!! The Coke does not get any better than this, for now….
There may have been “only” 5880 there tonight but I’d rather take my chances with 5000+ people there to watch a baseball game than twice that many coming for give-aways and non-baseball entertainment. No offense meant to anyone for what ever reason they come to Coca Cola Park but tonight was exceptional enjoyment for me. OINK!
Have to agree with PSVUE. A great baseball crowd at Coca-Cola Park Thursday night. They didn’t need the scoreboard or public address announcer to tell them when to cheer. My only question is why did they want everyone to wear red when Pawtucket was the team wearing scarlet uniforms?
Yeah, that was the first thing I thought of when I saw the Sox wearing the solid red tops…
But then, the official playoff T-shirt on sale at the Majestic Clubhouse Store is red, so… 😉
It was indeed a great night. I’ll post more thoughts later.
I think it was “Wear Red” because Delwyn Young said on Twitter after the White Out that it was annoying having fans dress the same color as the ball. Guess they figured next best choice was red because most people have Phillies stuff.
What a great night! Our first playoff game and a big first win, too! And the crowd, clearly a baseball-fan-only crowd, was awesome. Most importantly, the ‘Pigs were awesome, turning in a near flawless performance all the way around.
The home run by Moss was unbelievable. I knew the minute I heard the crack of the bat that it was outta here. I haven’t seen a home run hit that far since Greg Luzinski, I think!
The ‘Pigs will be in the driver’s seat if they can win Game 2 tonight. No way Pawtucket would win three in a row at home. So here’s to a fired up team, some heavy lumber, and ‘Pigs fans with lotsa lung! OINK!
Great night for our 1st playoff appearance. Made the 4 year and one rainout wait worth it. Def. could tell the real baseball fans were out as that crowd was the LOUDEST we’ve heard. Man we really wanted it. Kudos LHV! Way to back our Pigs. Hey Dan that Kratz HR followed your call back in SWB earlier this year!! I think Moss Hogg’s HR is still traveling somewhere!!
Game 2 tonight, Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now!!!!
Oink!
I was going to write a whole piece on the game, but time is short so I’ll just add some thoughts here:
1. One of the four best crowds I’ve been a part of, ever.
2. It was too “damp” for the wife to make it. Good thing, ’cause last time we got that rowdy I got scolded for “clapping too loud.” Seriously. We’ll see how tonight goes; I might have to escape to the Noise Nation if my clapping is too loud…
3. Minimal Red Sox support, I noticed. One guy in the section next to us had a PawSox hat on. However, he also had a Yankees shirt on, so he couldn’t have been too serious. Older son kept calling him “Mr. Confused.”
4. Really great crowd in the club level as well. Has something to do with the tickets being made available to the general public (wide availability before the game; not so much tonight). I think a lot of the corporate didn’t pony up for the packages, so the tickets went to ‘fans’ instead.
5. When the crowd’s that loud, hard to hear the Noise Nation. I’m expecting better tonight. You guys should be the LOUDEST OF THE LOUD, right? 🙂 Don’t make me come out there (and buy a round of drinks).
6. What was the deal with Fox? He must have said something to Manny (home plate ump), who told the catcher to go calm him down. Didn’t throw him out, which is the right thing to do in a playoff game, but I suppose a three-game suspension should be coming. DiPro, you wanna make that phone call…
7. It will be interesting to see how last night impacts tonight (crowd, play, etc.) Also, quite a different lineup with Sandberg getting the other guys in there: Sardinha, Juicy, MostInterestingManInBaseball (Bozied). Can’t question it, at this point…
8. Anyone else going to Reading tomorrow? Hope they can tie their series tonight, and come home 1-1.
One more thing: interesting to read the players’ and Sandberg’s take on the crowd. Getting players ready for Philly invoves more than just everybody getting his turn. Situations, pressure, and playing to win are part of the equasion, especially in Philly THESE days. Good experience for the younglings ie Galvis, Aumont, DeFratus, Savery, etc.
Take that, Huppert. A strikeout is NOT just like any other out.