Rollins is the best shortstop in Phillies history. He’s one of my better friends.
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Everything about Tuesday night was flawless, if you’re the sort of person who can detach themselves from their ardent fanhood for a couple hours of genuflection. With the familiar strains of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir blaring through Citizens Bank Park, catcher Cameron Rupp and home plate umpire Ron Kulpa stepped out of the batter’s circle to give Utley the full spotlight that he deserved in his return as the Philadelphia fans saluted Utley with almost 90-seconds of standing applause to welcome him back.
This time, though, Utley went deep twice as an opponent and got curtain calls after each of his two home runs – including a grand slam – in his first game at Citizens Bank Park since last season’s trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. “I didn’t really have the opportunity to say goodbye”, he said. “It is a situation I’ve never been in before”.
If there was any doubt – and really there wasn’t – about how much Utley is revered in Philadelphia, it was answered on Tuesday night.
Betts hit a three-run drive in the fifth inning and added a tiebreaking two-run shot in the seventh. He was nonetheless tagged with a 6-2 loss, running his career record against Philadelphia to 1-2 with a 5.91 ERA.
“I was trying to downplay it as much as possible”, Utley said, “but to be honest with you it’s something I was looking forward to for a long time”. He hit a solo home run off Phillies starter Vince Velasquez in the fifth inning. Utley sprinted around the bases with his head down, making the trip in less than 20 seconds. The crowd responded on cue, standing and cheering for nearly 90 seconds as Utley doffed his helmet, patted his heart and showed some genuine emotion beneath that typically stoic exterior.
Utley acknowledged the fans’ reaction.
Utley homered in Game 1 of the 2008 NLCS and World Series, sparking victories both times.
As if that wasn’t insane enough, Utley came to the plate with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and promptly delivered a grand slam. One out later, Utley added his solo shot on a 2-2 fastball from Velasquez that gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. He again sped around the bases.
Chase Utley didn’t homer, but he didn’t have to.
Of them all, Utley seemed to cherish the standing ovation before his first at-bat the most, even though he struck out afterward. Their NL Central lead is 12.5 games. Utley took off his helmet and saluted each part of the stadium and the Phillies dugout.
Cameron Rupp, Cesar Hernandez and Ryan Howard homered for the Phillies, who saw a four-game winning streak come to an end. As the ovation continued, umpire Ron Kulpa kicked imaginary dirt off a sparkling white home plate.
“No doubt a little extra adrenaline is flowing”, Utley said. It was truely special. “I was glad to get that first at-bat over with”.
Utley met the media before the game.
The second baseman didn’t have the success he enjoyed the first night. Utley knocked in more than 100 runs each season between 2005-09.
In Cincinnati, Tucker Barnhart’s first career grand slam capped the Reds’ five-run first inning, giving Anthony DeSclafani all the support he needed to beat his former team. Fans relished the fearless, gritty way he played.
But this is Philadelphia we’re talking about, and there’s more to Utley’s popularity than that.
The late Phillies announcer Harry Kalas gave Utley the nickname “the man” with a memorable call during an August 9, 2006 game against the Atlanta Braves.
Utley hit a bases-loaded-clearing double. Howard then hit a high chopper back to the pitcher.
But it wasn’t until the second inning that the Phillies scored.
“Chase Utley, you are the man”, Kalas exclaimed as Utley slid safely across home plate.
“There are so many times I’d meet a father with his son, or even a mother, who would praise the way I played and would tell me they want their son to play that way”, Utley said.
“To me”, Utley said, “that’s a true compliment”.
Over their last 13 games, Phillies starting pitchers have an ERA of 7.59. The trade happened near midnight and fans had long left Citizens Bank Park.
“Finally I feel like the offense is catching up to the pitching staff”, Turner said. “Everything happened pretty quickly a year ago”. “If I were to write up a script (last year), it would have gone a bit differently”.
Utley has adjusted to wearing the Dodger blue.
“As players we just try to play the game as it’s supposed to be played, but I think it was something bigger tonight”, Howard said. Los Angeles (65-52) began Tuesday as the leader in the NL wild-card race. “He’s all in every day”. I know he’s not hitting right now like he did in his prime. Philly fans have a reputation as cynical and hard-bitten.
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But what was truly unique was the pair of standing ovations that led to curtain calls for a visiting player after each of his home runs. His RBI single off Billy Wagner provided the key blow in a four-game sweep of the New York Mets, helping lead the Phillies to their first division title in 14 years in 2007. “It’s different. You can change the uniform but he’s always going to be a Phillie at heart”.
