Happy Memories of 2009 - Champs get their bling and a win
We all have fond memories of the 2009 baseball season for our Phillies. Over the next few days I will be sharing some of my fondest memories of the season. We all have our own moments that stand out and many of us will share the same fond memories. Feel free to share yours in the comments section below.
Championship rings and a remarkable comeback
The season did not start well for the 2008 world champions of baseball. After a pair of lackluster performances at home against the Atlanta Braves the Phillies set aside an afternoon to welcome back some old teammates (Pat Burrell, Geoff Jenkins...Adam Eaton) and hand out the well-deserved championship rings.
There to toss out the ceremonial first pitch was none other than Harry Kalas...
Little did any of us know that this would be the last appearance at Citizens Bank Park for our beloved broadcaster, but that is not the end of the story for the day.
Newcomer Raul Ibanez belted his first home run as a Phillie, with a two run blast in the second inning. that tied it but the Braves put five runs back on the scoreboard n the top of the third.
After falling behind the Braves by a score of 10-3 things looked bad heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Joe Blanton had been long gone from the game, JA Happ and Chad Durbin had failed to stop the bleeding and the offense had been missing for the first two and half games. But the something clicked. The Phillies scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead.
The Phillies fought back to tie the game and took their first lead of the season on an infield dribbler off the bat of Ryan Howard. Howard was out at first but Jimmy Rollins scored to put the Phillies on top. The Phillies took a 12-10 lead into the ninth and even though Brad Lidge allowed a solo home run to Matt Diaz (a sign of things to come?), Lidge picked up the save.
The game spoke so much about the story of the 2009 Phillies. Great offense, questionable pitching, and Brad Lidge giving up a run in a save situation. Who knew?
Previously: World Series Ring Ceremony Photo Album
Phillies.com recap
