This is why we watch sports.
A single moment in time, frozen forever in our memories.
The Phillies had done next to nothing for seven innings against Cubs' starter Yu Darvish. Then fate - and manager Joe Maddon - intervened, setting in motion one of those sports moments. Maddon lifted Darvish after just 92 pitches, placing the game in the hands of his bullpen.
Nothing leading up to this point gave any inkling of what was to come. That's the beauty of baseball. The Phillies trailed 5-1 entering the 9th inning. The team that had scored 11 runs the night before for the return of Charlie Manuel as hitting coach was back to its morose, moribund outlook.
Then the dominoes started to fall.
It started, as if often does, with a booted ground ball. Throw in a couple seeing-eye singles and Rhys Hoskins getting hit by a pitch.
That loaded the bases - and set the stage for Bryce Harper. This was why David Middleton plunked $330 million into Harper's account in the offseason.
It was a moment in time that called for a superstar.
Harper did not blink - and did not disappoint.
When Maddon went to the mound and summoned left-hander Derek Holland to face Harper with the bases loaded, I posted this Tweet:
Put the House on it. Harper hitting a grand slam for the #Phillies here. This is why they got him.
Holland actually put Harper in an 0-2 count. The slugger then fouled off a 2-2 pitch.
On the next pitch, Harper sent a moonshot into the second level of Citizens Bank Park, his 25th home of the night. He sprinted around the bases and touched off a wild celebration at home plate as the Phils celebrated an unexpected win and sweep of the Cubs, drawing back to within a game of the second wild card slot.
It was a moment of time. A moment that called for a superstar. Harper did not disappoint.
This is why we watch sports.
Comments