Each season of Pirates baseball is littered with post-game fireworks shows provided by Zambelli International, Pittsburgh’s “first family of fireworks.” While the “regular” fireworks shows are as spectacular as anyone could imagine, there are three shows during the season that really set the city alight. These three shows, called the “Skyblast” series, are often accompanied by post-game concerts by either local bands who have made it, or more well-known groups. For instance, last year featured performances by the Zac Brown Band, and the year before played host to REO Speedwagon, while Collective Soul appeared on Saturday, June 5th.
June 5th was the first Skyblast show of the season, and the promise of an evening of great pyrotechnic entertainment – and the return of former Pirate and fan favorite Freddy Sanchez, now as a member of the team from the City by the Bay, the San Francisco Giants – was enough to fill the stadium to its capacity as the Buccos took on the Giants in front of a crowd of 36,000. While a lot of the cause for the sell-out was indeed Skyblast, the fans on hand were treated to two sparkling displays: not only would the fireworks light up the sky following the game, the Pirates played terrific baseball, and pulled out a 6-3 win over San Francisco for their twenty-third win of the season.
The offensive display was led by second-year center fielder Andrew McCutchen, just a day after the anniversary of his call-up from Triple-A Indianapolis following the Nate McLouth trade. McCutchen went 4-for-5, including a laser-beam home run that he launched into the left-field bleachers of the park. Notable performances were also turned in by Pittsburgh-born Neil Walker and catcher Ryan Doumit. Walker, a week-old call-up from Triple-A , has been incredible to watch since his arrival to the big league club. He not only turned in several sparkling defensive plays, but he also knocked a triple to right field as part of a 3-for-4 night. Doumit was responsible for a home-run into the stands above right field early in the game.
Pitcher Paul Maholm and his relievers – Evan Meek, Joel Hanrahan, and closer Octavio Dotel – collectively threw a game that kept the Giants to only three runs; Maholm allowed no runs, and for the most part, the bullpen pulled through despite allowing runs. Dotel, who replaces former closer Matt Capps (now fulfilling the same role with the Washington Nationals), struggled slightly in the top of the ninth, but was ultimately saved from giving up a bases-clearing double to none other than Freddy Sanchez by a diving Lastings Milledge, who snared the ball on the warning track in left field.
The glittering efforts by the Pirates galvanized the crowd, and there was rarely a moment when anything but joy could be felt in the park. It’s a great feeling to see a crowd so engaged, and even better to see it first-hand. What made it really wonderful, however, was that the crowd assembled never felt like a group of “fair-weather” fans; even though many of them were probably there primarily for the post-game fireworks and concert, with the game serving as the opening act, once the game started and the Pirates took an early lead, there was genuine glee and excitement for seeing the hometown team playing well rippling throughout the stadium.
Skyblast nights are special kinds of nights in Pittsburgh. No one does fireworks shows better than Zambelli, and when the shows are preceded by games like the one that was played between the Pirates and Giants, those fireworks fly even higher, sparkle even brighter, and sound distinctly more like celebrations instead of the explosions of the hopes of the team and their fans.
There’s nothing better.
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