[Previous entry: "Mexican League News : Red Devils Beat Campeche in Game #5 of Division Series"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Phillies Journal - 2004"]
07/25/2004 Archived Entry: "Phillies Journal - 2004"
Phillies Journal - 2004
by Max Blue
http://maxblue3.tripod.com/darkblue
JAYBIRD AND ME AT THE BANK
It was 64 years ago that Jaybird and me sat in the Knothole Gang section down the leftfield line at Sportsmans Park in St. Louis and watched the unlikely spectacle of the chronically pathetic St. Louis Browns beat the chronically unbeatable New York Yankees 14-12 on a two run ninth inning walk off homerun by Walt Judnich off Yankee righthander Steve Sundra. Yesterday at the Bank in Philadelphia Jaybird and me, Liddy was there too, watched another unlikely win.
The Phillies’ Paul Abbott , 0-4, ERA over five, matched against the Chicago Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano, 9-5, ERA less than three. In the first inning with two out Sammy Sosa gave his little hop after he smacked homerun number 559 of his career. In the third inning Cubs’ first baseman Derrick Lee slugged one, and in the sixth Cubs’ third baseman Aramis Ramirez hit another. Abbott was pitching like he always does but in the bottom of the fifth a funny thing happened, Abbott singled up the middle with the bases loaded to give the Phillies a 4-2 lead. And somehow with closer Billy Wagner sitting out with a sore shoulder, the Phillies’ bullpen hung on for the win. A spectacular 4-6-3 double play in the eighth, with Cub runners at first and third saved it. Give a gold glove to Placido Polanco. Tim Worrell pitched two innings for the save, striking out Sammy Sosa with the tying run at second to end it. Winning pitcher (and hitter) Abbott, 1-4, losing pitcher Zambrano, 9-6. Go figure. It’s baseball.
Listen to the sound of 44,493 fans standing and holding their breath waiting for Worrell to deliver that last low and away slider that Sammy can’t catch. Listen to the sound as they let it all out. Phillies win!! Jaybird says anything is possible.
Saturday, July 24, 2004. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia.
Philadelphia – 4, Chicago – 3.
Replies: 1 Comment
Wowzer! We saw most of it, especially Polanco's nifty stab & flip to the SS who relayed it on to first. Worrell can't be confused with Gagne but he got Sammy to whiff at one low and away to snuff out the Cubs rally in the ninth. The only hopping Mr. Cork did after the third strike was back to the dugout to hit the showers.
Posted by Mick Pope @ 07/25/2004 02:08 PM EST
