Hit Bull Win Steak

Buffalo Bisons v Durham Bulls, June 29, 2000

Durham Athletic Park, Sec 115 Row K

Calvin LaLoosh: I held it like an egg.

Crash Davis: Yeah, and he scrambled the son of a bitch. Look at that, he hit the fucking bull! Guy gets a free steak!

First time in the new Durham Athletic Park.
A crown jewel of minor league parks. This is not the same stadium the movie Bull Durham was filmed in the late 80s. The park has a mini Green Monster (blue) in left with the "Bull" from the movie.
The Bull was a movie prop for the Kevin Costner movie. It remained at the old park after the filming and was relocated to the new digs some years later.
The stadium also has some seats in right field with a hill in center for blankets and kids rolling down the hill.
The Buffalo Bisons began Thursday night where the left off Wednesday night against the Bulls, scoring runs often. The Bisons put three runs on the board in the first as David Roberts, Bill Selby and John McDonald all scored.
Jeff Patzke tripled to start the second for Buffalo and later scored on a Marcos Scutaro single down the left field line.
Pat Borders hit his eighth home run, his second in two nights, in the fifth inning to put the Bulls on the scoreboard 5-1.
Bulls starter Dan Wheeler lasted five innings giving up five runs on 11 hits and struck out three. Wheeler took the loss, his sixth on the season.
Mike Duvall replaced Wheeler at the beginning of the sixth inning. Duvall gave up three runs on four hits in two innings of work.
The Bulls would not give-up, with the score 8-1 and two outs in the ninth, they loaded the bases. Dan Fraraccio hit a two-RBI single up the middle, scoring Dustin Carr and Pat Borders. Alex Sanchez loaded the bases again with an infield single. Eddy De Los Santos stepped to the plate and delivered a base hit to right field scoring two. All-Star third baseman Aubrey Huff walked to load the bases for the third time in the inning. DH Ozzie Timmons chopped a 2-1 pitch to the second baseman to end the game.
Bisons starter Willie Martinez (5-2) was the winning pitcher throwing eight innings of one run baseball scattering five hits. Jim Poole was credited with his first save of the year after facing Timmons for the last out of the game.

First MLB Game

Boston Red Sox v Baltimore Orioles, June 29, 1991

Memorial Stadium, Sec 41 Row 21

The cheap seats. Made a last minute decision to trek down to Baltimore to see the Red Sox. We just moved from Boston and had a fix to see the Sox.

We dressed up the newborn in his Sox hat for his first MLB game and sat in the aluminum seats one row in front of the sun.

This was a national Saturday game of the week. I can't remember which network broadcast the games back then. It was a pretty full park with 44,023 on hand at the old park on 33rd Street.

Certainly a pitching matchup to forget. Danny Darwin for the Sox and Roy Smith for the O's.

Not a bad game when you can see both Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken hit home runs.
Ripken hit a solo shot in the 3rd inning to put the Birds up 2-0. Boggs shot to deep right in the 6th off Smith was with second baseman Jody Reed on 2nd after a lead off double to left.

The Orioles responded with 2 of their own in the bottom half of the 6th and 2 more in the 7th.
The 6th place home team won 7-3.

South Philadelphia's John Marzano caught for the Sox and went 1 for 4.

Battle of the Beltway

Baltimore Orioles v Washington Nationals. June 27, 2008

Nationals Park, Sec 130U Row DD

Already been to the park several times so I knew my way around. Had out of town friends and we tagged a few kids along. Very impressive stadium with an impressive crowd of 35,830 for this less than intense rivalry.
Prior to the Expos relocating to DC, Baltimore had 30% of their ticket base coming up from metro DC. So the owner of the O's fought tooth and nail to prevent baseball from returning to DC. And he was successful for a long time. And DC area people know this.
So the rivalry is more Hate (Orioles owner) Peter Angelos more than it is a Nationals/Orioles thing.
Jesus Florez and Lasting Millege got some old fashion NL small ball going and the home Nats jumped to a 2-0 lead in the 1st.
This battle of cellar dwellers produced what was expected. Baltimore's Adam Jones did go 3 for 3.
The Nats won the series opener 4-2.
We spent more time with the kids touring the park and ending up in the Red Loft over looking center field. Not as good of a view as our seats behind the home dugout. But this is a great standing up ballpark.
In a side note, it looked like Teddy Roosevelt was finally going to win the Presidents Race. And my daughter was none too excited to finally see the day.
As Teddy rounded the corner in the lead, the Oriole mascot stuck his foot out, tripping Teddy. Leading to another George Washington victory.

Culture Shock

New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies
June 27, 1987

Veterans Stadium, Sec 720 Row 7

Brought a young lady home from college to meet the parents and decided to mix in a Phils games.
If you aren't from Philadelphia, it is quite a eye opener. The parents, the dirty rowhouses, the sirens, getting a cheese steak in an utterly scary neighborhood.
So I assured her we would pick up a 6 pack at the corner bar and no one would be inside at 11 AM.
Nothing to be afraid of.
She reluctantly went in with me. The other option was to sit alone on 3rd Street in a locked car.
As we opened the door, the crowd almost spilled onto the street in the blinding morning light. Not a stool empty. Not a mouth without a either a beer or cigarette in it. Not many teeth in those mouths. Welcome to my world honey.
We grab the 6 and head to The Vet. Scalped a pair of tickets and got ready to watch the defending World Series champion Mets.
The rivalry wasn't as intense then as it is now. For a Saturday afternoon game, only 40, 128 were on hand.
The Mets jumped out to an early lead with a Gary Carter double to left, scoring Lee Mazzilli.
Von Hayes responded with a home run in the bottom of the 1st for the Phils.
The Mets lead 5-2 going into the bottom of the 9th. Pinch Hitter Chris James came in for the Phils and lead off with a homer off Jesse Orosco. Future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt doubled and was later knocked in by Glenn Wilson to close the gap to 5-4. But that is where it ended when Lance Parish grounded out to 2nd with Mets closer Roger McDowell on the mound.

NLCS Rematch

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies.
June 26, 1994

Veterans Stadium Section 704 Row 17


I never had a thing for the Atlanta Braves, it just looks like it from all the ticket stubs I have gone through. Except for the fact I bartended at the Braves AAA ballpark in the late 80s when many of the hay-day Braves were coming through.
We are a year removed from the Phillies beating the Braves in the NLCS in 6 games. The Phils lost the World Series in 93 to the Blow Jays. Atlanta was still in their prime.
The Braves sent Steve Avery to pitch against Mike Williams for the home team.
A Sunday afternoon affair at The Vet with over 52,000 paid.
The Vet never looked good unless it was full or the game was played in the day. This 52 grand is a good crowd for this characterless bowl.
Former Richmond Braves Dave Justice and Ryan Klesko went long ball along with Darren Daulton for the Fightins. Dutch ended up 3 for 3 for the day.
Reliever Toby Borland was credited with the win for the Phils. His first of the year.
The Phils edged the first place Braves 9-8.

Helluva Feller

Baltimore Orioles v Boston Red Sox
June 25, 1988

Fenway Park, Section G6 Row 6

There is no P.A. announcer in the history of the game better than Fenway's Sherm Feller.
But unbenounced to us, Feller did not announce the line up in the 4th inning. Prankster Orioles play by play guy John Miller did. In a dead-on Feller impersonation he belted out: Muarry.........Designated Hitter..........................Muarry. And Tettleton..........Catcher.......................Tettleton.
We did not find this out until reading the Herald the next day.
Of course Cal Ripken, Jr started and played in this contest.
The Orioles were already 25 games back early in the season under the tutelage of manager
Frank Robinson.
It was a decent pitching match up with Mike Boddicker taking the mound for the O's and Bruce Hurst for the home team.
Cal Ripken, Jr got things started early with a 2 run homer in the top of the 1st.
The Sox got things going in the bottom of the 3rd with small ball by Wade Boggs, Marty Barrett, Dewey Evans, Mike Greenwell and Ellis Burks, scoring 3 runs.
Eddie Muarry had a solo shot in the 4th.
The score remained tied until the Sox lit it up in the bottom of the 8th scoring another 7 runs.
A perfect summer day in (the old) Fenway with 34,573 on hand.

The Perfect Black and Tan

Philadelphia Phillies v Boston Red Sox,
June 24, 2006

Fenway Park, Section 41 Row 19

Nothing worse than jumping on a plane in the morning to catch a 1PM game and landing at Logan in a terrestrial downpour. Sure, I could use my game ticket for a future game. But that would require another plane ticket.
But we went through the motions. We were met at the airport by friends and drove straight to Fenway. In the rain.
It isn't like the old days when you could waltz into The Cask for a quick one. The frickin lines now wrap around the block.
So we went inside for shelter and huddled under the bleacher section. We found a Guinness stand and went to order a few when my buddy asked the guy if he could pour us some Black and Tans.
The guy did. Perfectly. PERFECTLY. But he warned us once the crowds show up, he can't serve them anymore (process takes too long). So he tips the guy 2 bucks. I throw him another $5 and say; "We'll be seeing you later".
Luckily the rain passes, the field is cleared and this one may have started on time.
The weather apparenlty didn't persuade anyone from not coming to the ballpark as 35,564 walked throught the gates.
A few innings into it, it's my fly so I go back to the stand and get behind a loudmouth who asked for a Black and Tan. The same server politely said he is not permitted to server Black and Tans during the game. It slows up the line. Slappy McDickhead starts mouthing off at the poor beer guy, accepts a regular Guiness and stiffs him on a tip.
Knowing the rule: No Black and Tan during the game, I step up and say; "2 Black and tan's please". He recognized that tip given earlier and begins pouring 2. And they kept coming troughout the rest of the game.
Being from Philly and a Phils fan, I was torn in this contest.
Pitching that day was Curt Schilling for the Sox and Brett Meyers for the visiting Phils.
This is Meyers first start since being picked up by the police 2 nights earlier for smacking his wife around in public.
And the fans were relentless. I have no idea how Red Sox fans were able to buy so many Phils t shirts with Meyers and #39 on the back. But they did. And placed tape over the name with "Wife Beater" written in marker.
The Phils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st with a Bobby Abeau double that scored Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.
The Sox responded in the bottom of the 1st with a Manny Ramirez sac fly that scored Mark Loretta.
Mike Lowell homered in the 2nd and Loretta singled to bring Kevin Youkulis home for a 3-2 Soxs lead. And it remained scoreless until the Phillies tied it up in the 7th.
Ball game goes to the bottom of the 10th. Tom Gordon on the hill for the visitors. Alex Cora on base for the Sox.
Big Papi at the plate with a 2-2 count. And launches one deep in the center field bleachers. Just a section over from us.
Place erupted. One of the best finishes I have ever seen live.

No Bourbon, No Scotch. Just Beer

George Thorogood and the (Delaware) Destroyers,
June 23, 2004

Innsbrook Pavilion,
Richmond, Virginia  Sec:  GA

Setlist:
American Made
Who Do You Love?
Night Time
I Drink Alone
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
The Sky Is Crying
Sweet Little Lady
Madison Blues
Greedy Man
Get A Haircut
Bad To The Bone
Gear Jammer
Move It On Over

ENCORE
That's It, I Quit
Rocking My Life Away

NLCS Warmup

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies
June 23, 1993

Veterans Stadium, Section 620 Row 1

This was a precursor to the 1993 NLCS. The Braves were defending 2 time NLCS champs.
The Phils were in the process of going from worst to first in the NL East.

Future Hall of Famer John Smoltz took the mound for the Braves. He lasted 6 strong innings giving up only 2 hits and 1 earned run. The Phils were ahead 2-1 at the time the starter was pulled. Then the bullpen collapsed. Relievers Greg McMichael and Mark Wohlers surrendered 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th to put the game out of reach.

Terry Pendleton went 2 for 3 for the Braves. Darren Daulton and Jim Eisenreich both had 2 hits and 2 RBIs for the Fightins'. Lenny Dykstra doubled for the Phils.

No long ball in this contest that 57,903 attended on a Wednesday night.

Blow Up Doll Night

Texas Rangers v Boston Red Sox
June 22, 1989

Fenway Park, Section 43 Row 49

An eventless game for the sober. Good thing we were well prepared.

We had bleacher seats and took the wives. That fact probably was the only reason there was a semblance of decorum on our part.

We usually took the "T" to Fenway but drove and parked on the street this night.
Good thing for the sober wives that night.
I also had a co-worker having the first leg of his bachelor party at the game this night as well.

The Bleacher seats were infamous for one person smuggling in a beach ball, blowing it up in the middle of the game and swatting it around until the ball went in the bullpen, onto the field or until a security guard confiscated it.

The Bachelor Party group decided to smuggle in a blow up doll. Each one of them. They were seated on section over from us. About mid way through this snoozefest, the dolls came out.
Maybe 20 of them.
And they began to get batted all over the sections surrounding us until a sea of security arrived to confiscate them all.

To give you an idea how uneventful this game was; the highlight of the entire game was a double hit by Scott Fletcher. Julio Franco went 3 for 4 for the Rangers.

There were no home runs in this lopsided 9-1 contest.

Wade Boggs, Rafeal Palmeiro, Ruben Sierra and Dwight Evans played in this game.

Here is a historical retrospect written by a cheese eating smug Boston Globe writer recently about this time period at Fenway:
"In fact, things seemed to get worse (the early 1990s saw several cases of blowup sex dolls being batted around the stands). The Fenway we now think of as "family-friendly" emerged only when the team started strictly enforcing rules of behavior, tossing out patrons who got out of line (including even those who used profanity)".

Two Minor League Games On This Date

Prince William Cannons at Wilmington Blue Rocks
June 21, 1997

Fawley Stadium, Sec F Row 4


Reading Phillies at Bowie Baysox
June 21, 2004

Prince Georges Park Section 107, Row E

Another Nostalgia Day

Chicago Cubs v Philadelphia Phillies Veterans Stadium June 21, 1992 Section 125 Row X

Another installment of the Turn Back the Clock Days at The Vet. This year the Phils and Cubs wore 1948 style uniforms. Cool for the day. Uncool now that Phils wear the same retro threads on Sunday home games in 2009.

53,872 were on hand. Not a bad crowd for the characterless Veterans Stadium.

Dave Hollins hit a home run for the losing effort.

Jose Viscaino went 2 for 3, Mark Grace was 2 for 4. Cubs catcher Joe Girardi went 1 for 2.

Some notables in the game who went hitless were Lenny Dykstra, Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson.

Phils ace Kyle Abbott got the loss giving him a 0-8 record on the year. Mike Morgan got the win for the visiting Cubs.

Trenton Thunder

Bowie Baysox v Trenton Thunder,

Waterfront Park June 20, 1996 Section 1 Row V

Mister Mister

New York Yankees v Baltimore Orioles,

Memorial Stadium June 20, 1992 Sec 376 Row AA

Rolling into the area around old Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, we could see the light standards and listen to the game on the radio already in progress. But we couldn't inch our way any closer.
Just then a little black kid came running up along side of our car and offered us a parking space.
Out of desperation, I agreed without knowing any details. 45,719 were on hand. There isn't a lot of parking in that area.
He told us to follow him. He sprinted down an alley, up another street, up another alley.
It reminded me of the old stories of Connie Mack Stadium in Philly when my dad told me little colored kids would "offer" to watch your hubcaps for 5 bucks. You don't pay, your hubcaps end up missing.
Finally, he leads us into an abandoned lot where another black kid asks for $5 to park.
Not a bad price. If the car remains intact.
I offer the kid an extra $5 to look out for my car. It's an insurance policy I figure.

I think this is the last year of Memorial Stadium. I have a friend down from Boston to get to the stadium in last time.

Scott Sanderson and Rick Sutcliff already pitched before we entered the old stadium.
It was 2-1 O's before we saw any action.

The visting Yankees combined for 15 hits this day. Mel Hall had 4 hits and 3 RBIs for the visitors ncluding the Yanks on home run of the night. Don Mattingly had 2 RBIs in the cause.

Cal Ripken, deep into his consectutive game streak went 2 for 5 with a triple. Brother Billy went 2 for 3.

The Yanks, 5th in the AL East won 9-5 over the 2nd place O's.
Scott Sanderson was credited with his 5th win of the season. Rick Sutcliff was given the loss.

Waterfront Park

Trenton Thunder v Bowie Baysox June 20, 1996

Trenton Waterfront Park Section 1, Row V:

Minor league ball came into favor for us in 1995 when the MLB players went on strike and canceled the World Series.
Trenton was the AA team for the Boston Red Sox in 1996. We were a year removed from Nomar Garciaparra playing an entire season at shortstop for the Thunder.

The 96 Trenton squad saw a young Carl Pavano who notched 16 wins with 146 strike outs. Trot Nixon played right field that year batting .251 with 11 home runs.

Lou Merloni was a popular infielder on the squad.

No Juice = No Long Ball

Pittsburgh Pirates v Philadelphia Phillies June 19, 1991

Veterans Stadium, Sec 628 Row 9 Pirates won division for 3 years in a row starting in 1991.

I think these were free tickets I won from a short run sports radio station WCAU 1210.
I was surprised the seat location actually sucked for them being a prize.

The trivia question was What year did a Chicago baseball team last win the World Series?

The first place Pirates came to town to face their cross state rivals.
Bob Walk for Pittsburgh faced righty Jose DeJesus. Dejesus went deep into the 8th.

It was a low scoring affair with both the Pirates and Phillies scoring their lone run early the game.
It wasn't until the top of the 10th with John Kruk on base that Dickie Thon singled to left field, driving in the winning run for the home team.

There were a combined 22 left on base. The Phils had 10 hits to Pittsburgh's 7 hits.

Don Carmen was credited with the win. The loss was given to Bill Landrum.

The Pirates had Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla in the line up. Bonds cranked a double in this game.

29,781 were on hand at The Vet this evening.

World Champs v World Champs To Be

Boston Red Sox v Philadelphia Phillies June 18, 2008: A game where only one team looked like World Champions.

Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia Section 105 Row 8

Driving 5 hours, situating car at train station near where I would sleep. A transvestite train conductor. Trying to hook up with the last guy on Earth with no cell phone and my ticket to the sold out series.

I was left hanging before the game alone at McFaddens, the bar connected to Citizens Bank Park.
Being alone in a bar sucks. Not knowing when your ticket was going to arrive sucked even more.
First pitch, I have no ticket and no one to hang out in the bar with.

I settle in and watch the game on the TV's at McFaddens with other stragglers or others who do not have tickets to the sold out series. Batter 1: Red Sox Ellsbury. Single to RF. Batter 2: Pedroia. Single to RF. Batter 3: Traitor JD Drew: Deep HR to left center. 3-0.
How could it get worse then the home team being down 3 zip after only 3 batters in the Top of the First?
Batter 4: Lowell. HR deep to left field. 4-0. No outs. Top of the first.

Friend shows up. He hits on a bartender gal he knows and thinks he has a shot with. Phils salvage one in the bottom of first. I'm still watching game on TV that I traveled over 6 hours to see live.

We go inside stadium. 45, 187 in attendance and not a sound to be heard.

To sum it up the part of the game I did see live; No more home runs in the game. 11 pitchers step on the mound. No Big Papi in the line up. No Manny. 3 plus hours. Sun beating down on you all day.

Also missed legendary pitcher and Baseball Hall of Fame member Robin Roberts throws the ceremonial first pitch to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of his major league debut.
Plus, the Phils wore those god-awful 1940's blue uniforms that they wear for day games.

The defending World Champs played like World Champs, taking 2 of 3 in the series on the road.
Final score 1st place Red Sox 7 , 1st place Phils 4.

Subway Series #1

New York Mets v New York Yankees 6/18/1997:

Yankee Stadium Section U25 Row X:
MLB's First Interleague Series (3rd game)

For the 1st time in a regular season game, the New York Mets traveled cross town to the Bronx for a game that counted.

No one was really sure how the public would embrace interleague play. We were 2 years removed from the players strike that ripped the World Series from the fans hearts. Interest in the league was dwindling. Baseball was disparate for a gimmick.

And this was it.

I did not end up with the best seats in the house, but did buy them face value just a few days before gameday.

The bars in the area were a little surreal before gametime. Guys in Mets jerseys drinking beers with guys in Yankees jerseys. No brass-knuckles, no broken beer bottles, no head locks. Just.......surreal.

It was a day game. A damp and overcast 68 degree June day.

The overlapping chants for the Yankees and the Mets from 56,278 were impossible to ignore when they reverberated throughout Yankee Stadium on a gray afternoon. Bouncing back and forth, the cheers made an epic baseball game seem like a rock concert where the audience insisted on providing backup vocals. Lots of backup vocals for lots of crisp baseball.

It was entertaining baseball, entertaining enough for 168,719 fans to attend the three games -- the most for a three-game set since the renovated Stadium opened in 1976. It was exciting baseball, exciting enough for the deciding game of the series to stretch into extra innings. And it was intense baseball, intense enough for John Olerud to describe it as the most intensity he has ever felt on a baseball field. By the way, Olerud played in two World Series with Toronto.

''This was huge,'' Catcher Joe Girardi said. ''You want to win the series in your city. I think as time went on, it got more and more emotional because we fed off the fans. It was a great atmosphere and a great series.''

Yankees starting pitcher David Cone, who struck out 11 and permitted two runs and two hits in eight innings, was the story for most of the game as he used a robust fastball, a slippery split-finger fastball and a nasty slider to breeze past the first 11 Mets. He walked Olerud on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the fourth and, after ending a 22-pitch sixth by whiffing Gilkey for his sixth strikeout in eight batters, Cone was mortal in the seventh.

Yankees Chad Curtis and Cecil Fielder poked homers off the Mets starter, Rick Reed.

Met's releiver Greg McMichael walked Paul O'Neill with one out in the Yankee 10th and Fielder singled him to third, driving the ball through the hole between first and second.

John Franco, the lifelong New Yorker who was aching to pitch in the historic series, was summoned to face Tino Martinez, who had not had a hit in a week and was 0 for his last 21. With a 1-2 count, Martinez wanted a sacrifice fly and Franco wanted a strike. Martinez won, slashing an outside fastball for the single that was heard 'round the five boroughs.

''The Yankees and Mets should play three games every year,'' Martinez said. ''You don't get this type of atmosphere in a June game. This was a playoff atmosphere.''

At the same time just blocks away, Princess Diana and Mother Teresa were posing for pictures that would appear in the next day's tabloids.

Down in the Bush Leagues

Richmond Braves v Pawtucket Red Sox 6/18/99

The Diamond, Richmond, VA Section Box 101 Row J
A game I have no personal recollection of.

Brad Tyler had two hits, scored twice and drove in a pair as the Richmond Braves beat the Pawtucket Red Sox, 6-4. Tyler, who homered twice and knocked in seven in thier last meeting, got the Braves on the board in the first inning with a two-run double. Everett Stull (2-3) went six innings, giving up five hits and striking out three, to pick up the win. Robert Ramsay (4-4) surrendered six hits and five runs in four innings for Pawtucket. Davey Cortes struck out one in a perfect ninth to notch his 10th save. Howard Battle had three hits and Pascual Matos added two for Richmond, which has won four in a row. Jon Nunnally had two hits, scored twice and had an RBI for the Red Sox, who have lost four straight.
Seats for this game were in right field, overlooking the Braves bullpen. The section in front of the stadium enclosed restaurant, The Diamond Room.
Notables for Pawtucket that year were Ramon Martinez, Lou Merloni, Scott Hatteberg and Jin Ho Cho.
Being Trenton Thunder fans in the late 90's, we were also treated to former Thunder Donnie Sadler, Adam Hyzdu, Jim Chamblee and Andy Abad.
Richmond notables in 1999 were Mark DeRosa and Bruce Chen.

Defending Nasty

Cincinnati Reds v Philadelphia Phillies 6/16/91

Veterans Stadium Section 266 Row 21: The first of the Phillies popular Turn Back the Clock Day promotions.

I had out of town guests in from Boston that weekend. So we brought the ladies along. And they complained about the heat the whole game. Which made the ice cold beers go down even easier.
Because The Vet was a multipurpose stadium, seats rolled out from the outfield walls to field level for Eagles games. Our seats in Row 21 were the 1st row, overlooking the outfield wall.
You could feel the heat baking off the turf.
In this Sunday afternoon game, the Phils wore 1950 wool flannel uniforms.
This became a popular promotion which eventually led to the team going to their current uniform change in 1993.
It didn't help the Phils in their flannels that it was a scorching 97 degree afternoon game played on the heat absorbing Vet Astroturf.
Starting pitchers were Pat Combs for the Phils and Norm Charlton for defending World Series champion Cincinnati Reds.
Charlton lasted 6 innings giving up 8 hits and 5 runs. This included a 3rd inning home run from Phils Wes Chamberlain. Fellow Nasty Boy Randy Myers picked up the win for Cinncy.
Combs lasted only 4 1/3rd innings with 4 hits surrendered and 4 runs.
The Reds Glenn Bragg had 3 RBIs for the winners. Ricky Jordan contributed 2 RBIs to the losing cause.
Other notables in the game were Billy Hatcher, Mariano Duncan, Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo, Jay Oliver, Paul O'Neil for the Reds.
Other Phils who saw action this day were Wally Backman, Charlie Hayes, John Kruk and Dale Murphy.
It was a slow paced affair at 3:34.
The Turn Back the Clock promotion proved successful drawing over 41,000 to see the 6th place Phils struggle at 12 1/2 games back in mid-June.