Shane Victorino's Hula King for a Day

Yesterday was a cold and rainy day for a game, but at least it didn't start or end that way.

Vicki and I went to the see the Phils (27-28) take on the Giants at Citizen's Bank Park. Freddy Garcia was pitching and before we finished our WaWa sandwiches it was 2-0 Giants.

But Chase Utley and then Aaron Rowand homered to get the Phils back up 3-2. Aaron Rowand made 2 great back to back plays in the early innings. The first was a great grab of a ball over his head and Aaron turned and threw to a waiting Chase Utley at 2nd base, and a brillian sweep tag by Utley nailed a Giant runner, and then on the very next play, Rowand sprints in to make a sliding grab in front of Jimmy Rollins.

Then came the 5th and 6th innings. The Giants put together many hits and some really funny throwing errors by the Phils made it 7-3 Giants.

The Phils roared back in the bottom of the 7th, with hits and walks from Chase Utley again, and Wes Helms making it 7-5 with 2 outs. In the same inning, we got 2 more guys on and Ryan Howard came to the plate. Ryan worked the count to 3-2 and the crushed a fastball to deep center field, right over the 409 sign in dead center, hitting the back wall in the ivy. The big man looks to be back and it made the score 8-7 Phils.

Things looked good for awhile, then the Phils walked 2 in the top of the ninth, and the Giants tied it up 8-8.

By now the rain was coming down pretty hard and the wind was blowing from right to left. Vicki and I made our way down the left field side within the Bank, hoping to see something happen at the far end of the field. Jimmy Rollins came up in the bottom of the 9th and struck out swinging, bringing, Shane Victorino to the plate. As Shane strode to the plate, I said to Vicki, "Wouldn't it be great if he did something to wnin the game on his day?" Well, Shane got off a good hit, carrying all the way into the left field bleachers, for a walk off home run.
It was the first walk off hit, home run , or anything Vicki had seen, and of course the place was going wild. As Shane rounded the bases, he raised his fist in victory and was mobbed by his fellow teammates.

All in all it was a great day for the home team. The day ended wet, but everyone went home happy.