One of the best promotions the Phillies run each season took place this evening, as the 1990's made their return to the ballpark. Each Phillie had their face photoshopped onto some of the greatest pop culture sources from the decade, and both teams went retro with their uniforms. It was an interesting look back at how the game has developed. With the recent streak the Phillies have been on, and Cole Hamels on the mound, it was shaping up to be a very entertaining night for the hoem squad.
The first offense came in the second inning off the bat of Wes Chamberlain, err, Darin Ruf. After two groundouts by Domonic Brown and Carlos Ruiz began the inning, Ruf lifted his tenth homerun of the season to center field. The first run for either team put the Phillies ahead 1-0.
Cole Hamels was on cruise control for the first three frames. He then began the fourth by plunking Adam Eaton (not THAT one) with a pitch. MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt doubled to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Another double, this one by former Brave Martin Prado, scored two and gave Arizona a 2-1 lead. After an Aaron Hill ground out, Matt Davidson singled to bring in a third run. Tuffy Gosewisch, a former Phil, singled later in the inning, but the scoring halted at three.
The scoring flared up again in the sixth inning. Kevin Frandsen recorded a one out single, and was moved up when a pitch just grazed Chase Utley's jersey. Brown singled to load the bases for Carlos Ruiz. Chooch took full advantage of the opportunity by doubling into the left field gap. Two runners would score, and it tied the ball game at three. John Mayberry Jr. was intentionally walked to load the bases with two away for John McDonald, who promptly struck out looking to end the inning. 3-3 ballgame heading into the seventh.
A threat to score by the Phillies in the eighth was thwarted when Dom Brown was caught stealing, and Mayberry could not record a hit with two on. Jonathan Papelbon would come in to pitch the top of the ninth in a scoreless effort. That meant, in order for the Phillies to win, it would have to be another walkoff, their third consecutive.
Cody Asche came on to pinch hit in the ninth, and he singled to lead it off. Jimmy Rollins followed with a single of his own, and with Asche running on the pitch, he made it to third. Michael Young was intentionally walked to get to Kevin Frandsen with the bases loaded and nobody out. A strikeout on a 2-2 pitch gave Chase Utley a one out opportunity. After the count reached 3-2, Utley took a very close pitch for ball four, and the Phillies walked off. Again. 4-3 victory.
A third straight walkoff. I said it before, and I'll say it again. They may be out of playoff contention, but it's these games that keep many of us coming back. This team has a ton of positive energy right now, and everyonre is playing quite well. From the young guns to the old dogs, each player is contributing to the victory. Tomorrow night, Arizona's Randall Delgado will take on rookie Ethan Martin, though the starting pitchers may not matter if this walk off trend continues.
