Too bad Chase Utley can’t pitch.
The second baseman did his best Roy Hobbs imitation last night as he stepped into the batter’s box for his first at-bat of the 2012 season, the second straight one that’s been delayed while he tried to caress his cranky knees back into playing shape.
Utley promptly provided one of the most dramatic moments in this mostly lifeless Phillies season by crushing a 2-2 pitch into the seats in right-center field.
Electricity surged through Citizens Bank Park. Suddenly, it was 2008 again.
There was good news on Ryan Howard’s exam. He’ll start a rehab stint Thursday at Lakewood.
Roy Halladay threw again and reported no ill effects in his ailing right shoulder.
All was right in Phillies-ville.
Unfortunately, no one bothered to tell the Phillies bullpen that this was supposed to be the perfect Hollywood story.
They failed to stick to the script, turning the South Philly version of “The Natural” into “Nightmare on South Broad.”
You can read Ryan Lawrence’s account of the carnage here.
Pressed into action because of Sunday’s double-header, Charlie Manuel was forced to try to salvage this game with a concoction of relievers.
It didn’t work out so well.
Raul Valdes set the trend early, when he surrendered the 2-0 lead provided by Utley and Carlos Ruiz homers in the first by giving up 3 in the top of the 2nd. It was mostly downhilll from there.
The Phils rallied and at one point got to within 1 at 8-7, but Chad Qualls quickly doused the rally by giving up three runs before leaving to a shower of boos.
But not even a bitter 11-7 loss could mar the moment provided by Utley.
It’s one of those instances that go beyond sports. And I didn’t even see it, at least not live.
At the time I was doing our weekly live-stream Internet broadcast, “Live From the Newsroom.”
When the show was over, online editor Vince Carey informed us that Utley had homererd in his first at-bat. I thought he was kidding. I asked him if he was serious.
You can’t write a script like that.
Unfortunately, you also can’t envision the kind of nightmare the Phillies bullpen has morphed into this season.
We’ll cherish the Utley moment, which can now take its place beside his famous World Series celebration comment in the pantheon of great Philly sports moments.
But unless he can throw middle relief, I’m not sure the addition of Utley, nor the return of Howard and Halladay is going to be able to salvage this ugly season.
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