The first game of the entire 2020 season…
With real fans in attendance.
For the first time in 2020… fans at a MLB game
11,500 allowed in tonight for Game 1 of NLCS pic.twitter.com/6XF7q0HwkK
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) October 12, 2020
These fans walking in are the first group of fans EVER at Globe Life Field to witness an actual baseball game. #NLCS pic.twitter.com/Cu1n5RLo99
— Alex Plinck (@aplinckTX) October 12, 2020
It’s been a long, long year.
And in baseball years, even longer.
Four and a half months of drought. And then, this 60-game season, with its quirks and oddities, into this 16-team postseason, and through it all: no fans.
“Today,” declares Bill Pullman, in an Independence Day reboot, “we will not vanquish without a fight. We’re going to live on. We’re going to survive. Today… we celebrate our limited attendance entry to the 2020 National League Championship Series!”
The Game of Baseball: A BILLION times better with fans. We’re ready to go in Arlington! #NLCS #Postseason pic.twitter.com/xq0O4zZzpV
— Dusty Baker (@DustyBakerTV) October 12, 2020
It’s the first NLCS in the new playoff system, and the two best teams have made it.
Dodgers vs. Braves.
Before a “sold-out” crowd of 11,500.
With a tie game through eight innings, and then the ninth came around. With the Braves up to bat, and Austin Riley yanking control of the lead.
Solo home run, 2-1 Braves.
Austin Riley laser.
2-1 @Braves.#Postseason pic.twitter.com/j9mEv2OesT
— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) October 13, 2020
And then, Acuna hits a double. Ozuna drives him in.
3-1 Braves.
Marcell Ozuna with an RBI single. Ronald Acuna Jr. highsteps into home plate. #Braves lead 3-1. #ForTheA #Postseason pic.twitter.com/VDZ84rvUtd
— Justin Groc (@jgroc) October 13, 2020
Then, finally, Ozzie Albies comes up. Gives the ump a side-eye, steps back in, and gives those 11,500 the icing on the cake of the first win a baseball crowd saw all year.
Two-run homer. Braves lead 5-1.
Ozzie Albies vs. first base ump pic.twitter.com/AtzOoBkB6x
— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) October 13, 2020
¡Ozzzzzzzzie Albies dice presente! 💥Booom 💥#Mézclalo | #PorLaA pic.twitter.com/lCgVmZOjx2
— Bravos de Atlanta (@LosBravos) October 13, 2020
From a low-scoring, tie ballgame to this—and Game 1 of the NLCS is all Braves. With video from real fans, watching in the upper decks:
Ozzie Albies POURING IT ON!#Braves (5) | #Dodgers (1) | T9#LATogether | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/SZWTgXKe0Y
— 𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕖𝕝 ✭ (2-4) (@SaucyCeeDee) October 13, 2020
And despite all those real fans, in robotically scattered, borderline off-putting clusters in the seats, the Albies home run ball landed in no one’s palms, no one’s souvenir collection for the way back home.
It flew over the left-field turf, well over the bullpen wall, and…
Mark Melancon catching Ozzie Albies’ ninth inning bomb while he was warming up was amazing! pic.twitter.com/Gs6BWbZTa4
— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) October 13, 2020
Square into the glove of Mark Melancon.
Braves win, 5-1.
Game 2 tomorrow night.