On a chilly night in April, and down to their last three outs, the Phillies were staring into the eyes of a 6-8 record, and yet another slow start. The Houston Astros were in town for a three game set, and by all indications, it should have been an easy go for the Fightins.
But as we all know, nothing ever seems to come easy for the Boys from the City of Brotherly Love.
Jimmy Rollins wasn’t in the starting lineup, Carlos Ruiz was batting second, and Adam Eaton was on the mound. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that this was a split-squad game against the Blue Jays.
The reality is, the Phillies needed something big to happen. Perhaps something miraculous even. Well, something did happen, and it’s our 10th best moment of the 2008 regular season.
With a 3-0 lead going into the ninth inning, Houston elected to pull starter Shawn Chacon, who had thrown 8 solid innings of shutout baseball, in favor of their seasoned closer, Jose Valverde.
While most would be inclined to throw in the towel at this point, and it would be a lie to say that I disagree, it was nonetheless a disconcerting situation for the Phillies. With only three outs left, and only four hits all game, it was turning into one of those “here we go again” moments.
Then, something magical happened.
After pinch hitter Chris Snelling promptly deposited the first pitch he saw into the right field stands, Chase Utley did what he does best and took one for the team to reach base. After Ryan Howard continued his April funk by striking out, Pat Burrell, who was for so many years the ire of Philadelphia, tied the game with an opposite field (!) home run, thus continuing his legendary first half run.
With the game all tied up, Geoff Jenkins, one of the newest additions to the team, battled Valverde to an 11 pitch at-bat, which finally ended with Jenkins striking out, but not before he reached first base when the ball skidded away from catcher Brad Ausmus and towards the Phillies’ dugout.
With Jenkins on first, fellow newcomer Pedro Feliz roped a double down the left field line, which sent the not very fleet of foot Jenkins to blow through a stop sign by third base coach Steve Smith, to narrowly (and I mean n-a-r-r-o-w) beat the perfect relay from Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada.
After the jump, see the view from the first base line as the two new guys make their mark…
22 Comments on “Top 11 Moments of the 2008 Regular Season: Number 10”
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General
February 25th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Funny story about this is that I watched the entire game until the 9th inning. My wife wanted to watch something that came on the tv at whatever time it was, and when I flipped back when it was finished I see the team rushing the field and hooping and hollaring in celebration.
Are you kidding me?
February 25th, 2009 at 8:23 am
I watched that game from the bar and got really depressed. And then I freaked out when they game back to win it. No matter how bad a game is going, I see it through until the end because you never know what will happen.
Great second post Treyhorn
February 25th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I was actually at the Flyers playoff game that night in one of the boxes so they had the phils game on. As soon as the flyers won everyone started to pack up to leave but then someone pointed out that the phils were making a comeback and we all hudled around the tv for the ending. it was one of the more perfect sports nights i can remember.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:00 am
First, I miss Red Lasso and being able to watch these videos while at work.
Second, I really hope Jenkins returns to form and becomes the platoon we wanted from him last year. Everyone is predicting Werth to have a breakout year, and I would love that, but i think having a steady Jenkins and Dobbs of the bench would be great.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:44 am
One of those nights that you wonder why you bothered sitting through the game for 8 innings…and then you watch that 9th and realize, oh yeah, that’s why I always stick around.
I remember Harry getting a little too excited about the Snelling homer…maybe he was onto something.
Pat Burrell hitting an opposite field home run was simply unbelievable. Might have been a first?
I’m still not sure if Jenkins was safe, but who wants to get bogged down in the details…
February 25th, 2009 at 9:59 am
These posts are great. We could probably have the top 79 moments of 2008 and they would all rock.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:44 am
you should have done a top 25. that would take us right up to march madness. how very selfish of you, dash.
BS aside, i love these posts. keep up the good work.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I was actually at that game. Had upper deck seats but everyone left before the 9th so I moved down to the 3rd base line field level. It was insane after that game, people going crazy. Great game. And did anyone hear about the Greg Dobbs impersonator who used his resemblance to Dobbs to band a porn star? Pretty funny:
http://phillieslongdrive.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/you-cant-make-this-stuff-up/
February 25th, 2009 at 11:46 am
This kid from school went to this game and left after the 8th inning.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Jut I did the same exact thing. Weird.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Fantastic. I still smile and get giddy when I read about these games and moments. Make sure Pat Burrell’s walkoff against the Giants is in the top 3.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
hey meech, shouldn’t u put dash’s name in the blue bar underneath the “Benny the Bum’s” ad?
February 25th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Need pictures of tits!
February 25th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
This was the first of many times during the regular season that I began to believe that 2008 was going to be a great year. Ha I knew it was only April but as son as Pat hit that homer I just knew that we would win the game.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Wasn’t that the game from the KFC commercial???
February 25th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
hahhaa, yes Back 2 Front Special, yes it was.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I remember this game mainly because I was the Flyers’ playoff game vs. the Caps that night. It was great leaving the Wach after killing the Caps (and partaking in some ‘Fuck Ovechkin’ chants on the escalator, check youtube for that one), and having the Flyers and Phillies fans running into each other leaving the stadium asking what happened at the other game and celebrating. Good times, good times.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
@john
Not until the ritualistic ‘Crossing of the Desert’, ‘Unblinking Eye’, ‘Wreck of the Hesperus’, and ‘Paddling of the Swollen Ass… with Paddles’.
/Stonecutter’d
February 25th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
That was one of the best nights of the year. I was at the game and got tickets just behind the phils dugout for free. Stuck around till the end and it was a blast. I also loved how everyone in the bank was buzzing about the flyers. We would here a cheer everytime they scored. Great night.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
back @Howdy S
o true i forgot
February 26th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
i knew it!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks meech!
February 26th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I was at this game….fan-freaking-tastic. Good thing my friend and I always stay to the end. Chris Snelling sighting and Pat the Bat HRs before the Jenkins hot dash. Awesome…..and was just a small piece of things to come.