Since April, I’d been avoiding Chavez Ravine. I wasn’t dealing with guilt over the history of the area. I saw Culture Clash’s play five years ago and dealt with it all then. Plus, I grew up without the knowledge of the history. All I knew were the names of my favorite players and all those guys who won Rookie of the Year in the ’90s (Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Raul Mondesi, Hideo Nomo and Todd Hollandsworth).

My avoidance wasn’t even about the hassle of getting to/in/and out of the place. The happiness I feel in the stadium cancels out the frustration of getting in.

No, I was staying away because I didn’t like owner Frank McCourt’s business model of increasing admission and parking prices as well as creating more luxury seating. Last year, I only went when someone else was trying to pass off some tickets. Yeah, I can be coda…

But my boycott was half-assed, like a lot of other things I do. If a friend offered to buy tickets or needed to pass off some tickets, I’d gladly take them.

I was offered tickets last week for fantastic seats for the first game of the Freeway Series against the Anaheim Angels (eff that LA Angels of Anaheim crap).

Photos after the jump.

Vidalia, a Flickr friend and fellow LA Eastside blogger, came into some great tickets. She offered to take three other LAE bloggers to the game. El Random Hero jumped at the opportunity, I did too. The third person backed out so Vidalia told me to invite a friend. At the last minute, I got a hold of Alfred who is always down for a Dodger game (free or not).

Our baseline box seats came with complimentary access to the Baseline Box Club with all-you-can eat grub like pasta, salad, roast beef, rosemary chicken, fresh fruit, cookies, and hot sandwiches.

Oh! How could I forget the Dodger Dogs?

We’re sitting in section 31? That has to be a good sign.

We were only a few feet away from the Dodger dugout.

El Random Hero’s first Dodger Dog. It was also his first game… dude got spoiled.

The view? Oh, it was okay. That’s Juan Pierre (now on the DL… sigh) right after successfully stealing third base.

I wonder if Sergio the bat boy pronounces his name Sur-jioh. I hate that.

The Asian men in front of us were big fans of Chan Ho Park, the starting pitcher. The white dudes in the first row were really annoying. They didn’t start any fights though, unlike some of the rabble rousers in the pavilion and reserve sections (it can get bad, ask Mooch).

A blurry Andre Ethier (swoon!) and Matt Kemp (swoon!), two of my favorites. And no, it’s not because they’re quite handsome.

Matt Kemp is quite the center-fielder.

Oh, hai! Time for the 7th inning stretch.

According to Vin Scully, Andre Ethier is the hottest hitter on the Dodgers right now. I agree. Ethier hit a three-run homer to make the score 6-0.

Takashi Saito, the Dodgers’ closer, came in at the top of the 9th to deftly strike out the side. Game over.

Dodgers win!

Oh! Can’t leave Chavez Ravine without singing Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.”