A longtime baseball fan, I’ve seen a lot of exciting games and come-from-behind victories, but yesterday’s Phillies-Padres battle was the one that came closest to a made-in-Hollywood ending.
As was the case throughout the series, the lead changed throughout the game, a game that, if won, would send the Phils to the World Series. A victory would also allow that improbable bunch of post-season over-achievers to celebrate in front of their notoriously passionate fans.
But the Phils were down 3-2 going into the bottom of the 8th. J.T. Realmuto, the former Marlin, led off the inning with a single, bringing the winning run to the plate. This, in true Hollywood fashion, was Bryce Harper, the superstar acquired by the Phillies for $330 million. The thought in the minds of everyone in the stadium was of a home run; Harper had already hit four in the post-season. Watching at home, I was also thinking home run, but I was also thinking that that was the sort of thing one sees in movies, not, usually, in real life.
Harper swung and missed a fastball. He took a couple pitches, and fouled a couple off. With the count 2-2, he hit a towering fly to the opposite field that – whaddaya know! – landed in the stands. He rounded the bases as the place erupted, and I thought: For once in baseball – at least with the team I’m rooting for – life imitates art. Though in a movie it would have been the ninth inning.
