I wasn’t supposed to be here at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia but when renowned Phillies blogger Justin Klugh says “ You’re in town? I got us tickets,” you don’t turn it down. The subway ride down to the southern Philly sports complex was pack so at first I though we were in for a great game but after stepping outside I realized that 80% of the train was going to the Sixers finale where they would clinch the 3rd seed in the NBA playoffs. Crowd size would not deter me from having fun. Cold might but not crowd size.
We had great seats as we watched the up and coming Phillies take on the no names Reds and Joey Votto. Nick Pivetta pitched 7 strong innings and had a crucial hit in the second inning to set up JP Crawford’s monster upper deck 2 run shot. Only his second hit of the year. From this point on, it was uncanny how closely Justin would predict the game.
Justin would predict that the always-pesky Red Joey Votto, who’s beloved in Phily for never throwing foul balls to kids like every other does, would tie up the affair. Moments after a Peraza double, Votto singled in the Reds first run before scoring himself on a Ervin groundout.
In the 9th inning, Justin again surmised that the game was going too well for the Phillies given that the game was well under 3 hours and Hector Neris, the Phillies closer had walk up music that was undeserved at that specific time. Justin would call the shot as Scooter Gennett would blast one just over the wall in left only to have replay inexplicably call it back. It was still impressive that Justin knew his team so well. The Reds would tie it up a 3 and send the game into extra. Free Baseball.
In extra Odubel Herrera would make a home run robbing catch in the10th to preserve the tie in the 12th for Scott Kingery who was having a hell of a week. The rookie had hit his first home run and his first walk off grand slam earlier in the week. Earlier in the game, Kingery threw a bullet to home plate to gun out Pereza on a Joey Votto single. The youngster was having himself a night when he stepped to the plate in the 12th. The Reds brought Billy Hamilton into the infield just to stop any runs but Kingery hit a long sac fly into right to end the affair at 4-3. The Philles have won 5 out of the last 5 and are now over .500 at 6-5.
I always try to have a local brew and hot dog at each park and was pleasantly surprised with a Yuengling Lager and a very good dog. It was a fun albeit cold night with my friend at the park and the home team won.
Next stop: Boston
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