Go ahead, admit it.
In the ninth inning of yesterday’s Phils-Mets game, you were using Eric Buntlett’s name in vain. You were wondering why this guy is still in the major leagues.
Bruntlett has struggled this year. His offense has been almost non-existent in his few spot starts as the team’s leading utility player. Then yesterday against the Mets, he broke out of his slump.
Bruntlett got three hits and was robbed of a fourth in his rare start for a resting Chase Utley.
But he almost gave it all away in the ninth inning. Bruntlett booted one ball for an error and probably could have been given an error on another play.
What should have been an easy inning slamming the door for Brad Lidge was now turning into a nail-biter, the Phils trying to protect a 9-7 lead and the tying runs now on base.
Then something happened that makes baseball the magical game it is.
The Mets’ Jeff Francoeur hits a liner that appears ticketed for center field and another run in. But the Mets had started their runners, meaning Bruntlett was headed toward second to cover, right into the path of Francoeur’s line drive. Bruntlett snagged the liner, steppped on second and then tagged out the runner coming from first.
That’s what they call an unassisted triple play. It’s only the second time in Phillies history they have pulled one off. It’s only the second time in Major League Baseball history a game has ended on one.
Somebody up there likes the Phils. Or really dislikes the Mets. At any rate, it appears someone decided to make Eric Bruntlett a star yesterday. Then turn him into a goat. Then make him a star once again.
That’s baseball.
I’ll take it, either way.
The teams hook up in a rare Monday afternoon getaway game this afternoon.
Maybe the Phils can win on an inside-the park home run. I suppose it would be too much for that to fall on Eric Bruntlett’s shoulders.
All of which recalls something once said by legendary Phils broadcaster Rich “Whitey” Ashburn. He was talking about baseball, its ebb and flow over a marathon season, and the potential magic that could occur at any moment.
“You never know when you are going to see something you’ve never seen before,” Ashburn used to say.
You can put what happened to the Phils Sunday in New York on that list.
In the ninth inning of yesterday’s Phils-Mets game, you were using Eric Buntlett’s name in vain. You were wondering why this guy is still in the major leagues.
Bruntlett has struggled this year. His offense has been almost non-existent in his few spot starts as the team’s leading utility player. Then yesterday against the Mets, he broke out of his slump.
Bruntlett got three hits and was robbed of a fourth in his rare start for a resting Chase Utley.
But he almost gave it all away in the ninth inning. Bruntlett booted one ball for an error and probably could have been given an error on another play.
What should have been an easy inning slamming the door for Brad Lidge was now turning into a nail-biter, the Phils trying to protect a 9-7 lead and the tying runs now on base.
Then something happened that makes baseball the magical game it is.
The Mets’ Jeff Francoeur hits a liner that appears ticketed for center field and another run in. But the Mets had started their runners, meaning Bruntlett was headed toward second to cover, right into the path of Francoeur’s line drive. Bruntlett snagged the liner, steppped on second and then tagged out the runner coming from first.
That’s what they call an unassisted triple play. It’s only the second time in Phillies history they have pulled one off. It’s only the second time in Major League Baseball history a game has ended on one.
Somebody up there likes the Phils. Or really dislikes the Mets. At any rate, it appears someone decided to make Eric Bruntlett a star yesterday. Then turn him into a goat. Then make him a star once again.
That’s baseball.
I’ll take it, either way.
The teams hook up in a rare Monday afternoon getaway game this afternoon.
Maybe the Phils can win on an inside-the park home run. I suppose it would be too much for that to fall on Eric Bruntlett’s shoulders.
All of which recalls something once said by legendary Phils broadcaster Rich “Whitey” Ashburn. He was talking about baseball, its ebb and flow over a marathon season, and the potential magic that could occur at any moment.
“You never know when you are going to see something you’ve never seen before,” Ashburn used to say.
You can put what happened to the Phils Sunday in New York on that list.
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