Manny Mota now has company.
His name is Johnny Damon.
It was Mota who drove a stake into Phillies’ fans hearts on “Black Friday” in the late ’70s, starting a series of events that led to a devastating loss against the Dodgers.
Fast-forward three decades. The Phils had just electrified Citizens Bank Park courtesy of a Pedro Feliz homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the Game 4 of the World Series against the Yankees.
That only set the stage for the same problem that has bedeviled the Phils all season long.
In other words, Brad Lidge.
Lidge started the ninth by promptly giving up a base hit to Damon. What happened next is one of those moments that will live in Philly sports infamy.
With the shift on against Mark Teixeira, Damon steals second. But with Feliz taking the throw at second, it dawns on Damon that no one is covering third. After a split-second pit stop, Damon bolted for third.
I’m not sure at what point it dawned on Lidge that he needed to cover third, but once he did he had no shot of beating Damon to the bag.
Of course the Yankees went on to score three times to seal the deal.
The Phils now find themselves with their backs to the wall. Oddly enough, that’s where they have played their best ball this year.
They will send their ace, Cliff Lee, to the hill tonight to extend the Series against A.J. Burnett, again starting on short rest.
Can the Phils win tonight to send the Series back to New York. Sure. Can they run off three straight wins? That’s a tall order.
None of which will change what happened last night, another dagger in the heart of a sports town that has suffered so many.
His name is Johnny Damon.
It was Mota who drove a stake into Phillies’ fans hearts on “Black Friday” in the late ’70s, starting a series of events that led to a devastating loss against the Dodgers.
Fast-forward three decades. The Phils had just electrified Citizens Bank Park courtesy of a Pedro Feliz homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the Game 4 of the World Series against the Yankees.
That only set the stage for the same problem that has bedeviled the Phils all season long.
In other words, Brad Lidge.
Lidge started the ninth by promptly giving up a base hit to Damon. What happened next is one of those moments that will live in Philly sports infamy.
With the shift on against Mark Teixeira, Damon steals second. But with Feliz taking the throw at second, it dawns on Damon that no one is covering third. After a split-second pit stop, Damon bolted for third.
I’m not sure at what point it dawned on Lidge that he needed to cover third, but once he did he had no shot of beating Damon to the bag.
Of course the Yankees went on to score three times to seal the deal.
The Phils now find themselves with their backs to the wall. Oddly enough, that’s where they have played their best ball this year.
They will send their ace, Cliff Lee, to the hill tonight to extend the Series against A.J. Burnett, again starting on short rest.
Can the Phils win tonight to send the Series back to New York. Sure. Can they run off three straight wins? That’s a tall order.
None of which will change what happened last night, another dagger in the heart of a sports town that has suffered so many.
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