San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
WITH TEAM AWAY, FANS FILL UP PETCO PARK FOR WATCH PARTY
Game 4 shown on big screen as faithful enjoy atmosphere
The Padres watch party at Petco Park on Saturday brought together multiple generations of families and fans to cheer on the hometown team in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
The sold-out gathering was the second of three at the downtown stadium where thousands of the Friar Faithful crowded to watch the Padres on the big screen.
The watch party — which was free for fans who reserved tickets — started a couple of hours before first pitch at 4:45 p.m. Padres staff made balloon hats in team colors for fans and guys in Padres jerseys walked around the concession area on stilts.
Even though the Padres were playing thousands of miles away in Philadelphia, the first two levels of the stadium were packed.
Despite the Phillies leading the NLCS by one game, early on, many of the fans at Petco Park felt confident in San Diego’s ability to turn it around.
Padres Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman was among the hopeful.
The crowd cheered for the beloved pitcher as he spoke to the park, wearing an “LFGSD” shirt, minutes before game time.
In his speech, Hoffman emphasized how much the players appreciate the excitement of fans. “You can’t understand the energy that you all push on the field,” he said.
Brian Ferretiz from San Marcos brought his two teenage daughters to Saturday’s watch party.
He was at the 1998 World Series game when the Padres beat the Yankees at what is now Snapdragon Stadium. Last week, he was at Petco Park when the Padres clinched their spot in the NLCS by beating the Dodgers.
“For me, that was the World Series; like, this is extra for me,” the 38-year-old said. “Even going back to ’98 when I went to the World Series. I think that was the best experience I’ve had, when (the Padres) beat the Dodgers.”
Teresa Richards of Chula Vista brought her whole family, including her uncle who swapped his blue Dodgers cap for a brown Padres hat last week after San Diego beat L.A. This is their first time at Petco to watch a postseason game, but they’ve been diligently supporting from home.
Fans danced on screen between innings and the smells of barbecue, popcorn and hot dogs filled the stadium walkways.
The place erupted in a thunderous roar when Manny Machado hit a solo home run to give San Diego the lead in the first inning. As he rounded the bases on the Jumbotron, fans chanted “MVP, MVP!”
Fans chanted “Ha-seong Kim, Ha-seong Kim” before and after the Padres short stop went to bat and lifted San Diego to a 4-0 lead.
The crowd booed when the Phillies scored and when they didn’t agree with an umpire’s call. The Padres blared the home-run horn to celebrate when Juan Soto hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to give the Padres the lead again.
Could the Padres have benefited from the lucky powers of the goose — the Padres’ unofficial postseason mascot?
David Anton of National City thinks so. He was sporting a brown and yellow poncho and a goose call horn around his neck while carrying a plush goose in a Padres cap. In his other hand he held up a sign that said, “Mess with the honk you get the bonk” and showed a goose whacking the Phillie Phanatic mascot.
“The goose and the team has brought this whole city together,” said the fourthgeneration Padres fan. Anton said he planned on walking around the stadium to “amp up the crowd here and bring that energy and good mojo to Philly for our boys fighting over there.”
Ultimately, the Padres lost to the Phillies, 10-6.