When the Philadelphia Phillies took the field on a sunny day at Veterans Stadium in 2002, they didn't know they would be witnessing an enormous offensive boost from their starting pitcher. We remember starting pitchers normally by their ERA, win-loss record or even strikeouts. What we will remember from this day 12 years ago is an offensive display by Phillies right-hander, Robert Person.
Taking the mound for the first game after spending some time on the DL, Person got through the top of the first, the Phillies wasted no time putting an offensive onslaught on the Montreal Expos. Marlon Anderson doubled to lead off the inning and after a Scott Rolen pop-out, Bobby Abreu took a base on balls. Pat Burrell followed with a three-run homer, giving the Phillies an early 3-0 lead. Next, the Expos walked Jeremy Giambi and Travis Lee.
Montreal opted to change pitchers at that point, calling on journeyman Bruce Chen to replace Britt Reames. Chen intentionally walked Tomas Perez, setting up Robert Person with none out and the bases loaded. The Phillies starter ripped a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam and just like that, the home team led, 7-0. The Phillies added on three more runs courtesy of a Bobby Abreu two-RBI single and a Pat Burrell RBI single. At the end of the first, it was 10-0 good guys. Pat Burrell was as surprised as the rest of us during his post-game interview. (via ESPN.com)
"I can't believe we scored 10 runs in the first inning first of all,'' Burrell said. "But for Person to hit a grand slam and then another homer, it's just unbelievable.''
That wasn't all Person had in him either. The Phillies scored four more runs in the fourth, making it a 14-1 game. In the fifth, Travis Lee led-off with a single. Tomas Perez struck out and catcher, Todd Pratt, singled to put two runners on with none out. Up stepped Robert Person. He duplicated his earlier swing and sent another ball over the wall in left field, a three-run homer off of Expos reliever Masato Yoshii, making it 17-1 Phillies. An RBI single by Pat Burrell in the eighth would score the 18th run, sealing an 18-3 win for the then 23-32 Phils.
Person came into the game 0-for-10 on the season, hitting .116 for his career. After his monsterous game, Person didn't collect another hit for the remainder of the season, but June 2nd, 2002 will be one remembered for a while in Philadelphia. In addition to his offensive performance, Person nabbed his first win of the season, pitching five strong innings, scattering three hits and giving up just one run while striking out five.
While Person knew he wouldn't be going out to pitch the sixth, manager Larry Bowa had no trouble sending his starter out to hit in the bottom of the fifth, when he hit his second home run. (via ESPN.com)
"Normally I have to ask or beg him to let me bat,'' Person said. "He told me to hit this time."
But Person, who takes a lot of pride in his hitting, isn't going to let his teammates forget about his performance anytime soon.
"I think I'm going to send them a video of it this offseason,'' he said.
Person struck out with the bases loaded in the third, but not before hitting a long foul ball just short of a homer, which would have made it three on the day.
The Phillies are 51-48 all-time on June 2nd and face the Mets tonight at 7:05pm to finish up their marathon series.
Another June 2nd memory: On his 37th birthday in 2009, Raul Ibanez hit two home runs and drove in five. The first homer was the 200th in Ibanez' career, helping the Phils to a 10-5 win. Today, Raul turns 42.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on @ApterShock
