THE BALLPARK - The Minnesota Twins did it right when they built Target Field, which opened in 2010. The ballpark, nestled in downtown Minneapolis, has a sleek, modern feel. It's on the smaller side, with a seating capacity of approximately 38,500. Much of the exterior façade (and some of its interior) features native Minnesota limestone. Most of the field's lights are recessed along the edge of the upper deck's metal-clad canopy, giving the roof the appearance of an airplane coming in for a landing.
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| Target Field, Minneapolis, MN |
I wasn't expecting it, but this ballpark turned out to be a favorite of mine. Sight lines are great. There's not much foul ground, so it feels like you're right on top of the action. Most of the main concourse is open - offering good views of the field as you walk about. There's a lively vibe in and around the ballpark, and the fans and employees we encountered truly were "Minnesota Nice."
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| Budweiser Roof Deck Bar - Center Field |
Concessions were good. I enjoyed a tasty local brew as we strolled around the ballpark before game time. We even found a tribute to Charles Schultz, the creator of the Peanuts, who hailed from neighboring St. Paul (the other half of the Twin Cities).
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| Dorry and Charlie Brown |
THE GAME - We saw the home town Twins defeat the Boston Red Sox 4-2. The Sox jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the middle of the 3rd inning, but the Twins came roaring back. The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the 4th. They loading the bases with no outs, but only managed one run on a sacrifice fly by outfielder Jake Cave. (
Fun Fact: After the 2022 season, the Orioles claimed Cave off waivers from the Twins. Then the Orioles tried to sneak him through waivers themselves, but my Phillies claimed him and added him to their 40-man roster for the 2023 season. Welcome to Philadelphia, Jake Cave!)
In the bottom of the 5th inning, the floodgates opened for the Twins. Three batters walked to load the bases. Then third baseman Gio Urshela cleared the bases with a clutch two-out double. The Twins held onto the resulting 2-run lead, winning 4-2.
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| Target Field as we flew out of town |
Flying out of Minneapolis the following night, I looked out the plane's window and saw a beautiful sight - Target Field, lit up like the sparkling gem that it is.
OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾⚾
