Pretty much on impulse, I headed to Citizens Bank Park after work last night to watch the Phillies take on the Reds. It was a beautiful June evening, and the game was a good one. That after-work impulse really worked out….
The Phils, who are now leading the N.L. East, continued to be impressive on offense and defense. 2008 MVP (that has to be the prediction, right?) Chase Utley (3-for-4) homered in his fifth straight game, and Pedro Feliz and Chris Coste each had home runs as well. The Reds closed to a single run, but the Phillies bullpen hung tough, securing the 5-4 win. Fittingly enough, Utley ended the game by catching a piercing, two-out line drive. (You can see the play at The 700 Level.) Chase, will you marry me? Please?
What else can I say about the game? Well, for one thing, it could’ve been the game when Ken Griffey, Jr., hit his 600th career home run. But “general soreness” kept him out of the game. A Griffey-jersey-clad man in the row ahead of me was truly bummed when he found out that Junior’d been scratched. Personally, I’m hoping Griffey won’t get No. 600 in Philly.
I sat in Section 233 tonight, which is sort of the third-base, mirror-image version of my usual section (Section 211, near first base). There’s no real view of the scoreboard in Section 233, but the sight lines are definitely better than in Section 211—where the seats are all at a weird angle, causing grumbles about seeing home plate. Plus, during a day game, Section 233 probably has better overhead coverage. When I’m choosing season tickets next year, I’ll have to give Section 233 some thought….