Laughing all the way home

Giants 4, Phillies 3

The ball hung in the air for an eternity. From my seat Tuesday night, in the upper deck down the third base line, I refused to believe it'd leave the yard.

Turns out Oracle Park was the only park that could hold Patrick Bailey's blast in the ninth inning.

As the ball bounded hilariously, absurdly, impossibly far down the warning track, all I could take in was the sea of heads bobbing up and down alongside mine.

The crescendo hit as Bailey pounded third on his way home, when the most ridiculous end to any game any of us had ever seen was all but assured. We hugged and high-fived, screaming and shrieking into the night.

For the lucky ones in the ballpark, the moment had nothing to do with the team or the season. It had everything to do with the communal experience—the bonding power of pandemonium. I'll never forget what happened Tuesday night.

I'm only sad it had to end.

Up next: It’ll be a tough act to follow. The Giants go for the sweep Wednesday afternoon. Justin Verlander (0-6, 4.84 ERA) takes on Jesús Luzardo (7-5, 4.44 ERA) at 12:45 pm.