"Take me out to the ball game" said the squad, and their wish was granted. City pitched up at Dodgers Stadium (see what we did there?) on Sunday, with one lucky player having the honour of getting the game under way.

After being introduced to the crowd, the lads jostled for position to make sure they did not miss that all-important first pitch, with Stuart Taylor adopting the "Tom Cruise in Top Gun" Aviator shades look to great effect.

And the lucky pitcher was, of course, Joe Hart. A decent cricketer in his youth, Joe threw himself into proceedings with gusto, looked the part and, we're told, has a decent curve ball in his locker.

"It's the bottom of the ninth", "the bases are loaded", "that is out of here!" - James and Adam impress Gareth with their grasp of baseball terminology, but Stuart looks nonplussed.

The guests of honour were never too far away from the roving eye of the Dodgers Stadium camera.

In a nice touch, the hosts gave Joe a memento of his stint out on the field of dreams.