Chase Utley Has Chase Utley-Like Performance at All-Star Game
With the National League down, 3-0, Chase Utley doubled home a run in top of the second inning. He celebrated his usual way: Putting his hands on his hips and staring out into space, as if he were a baseball-playing automaton. “My programming allowed me to achieve that excellent baseball result,” Utley thought, probably.
Utley actually factored in to all three of the National League’s runs last night. He doubled home a run to make it 3-1, then scored on a Jonathan Lucroy double that followed. Utley’s at-bat was probably the best of the night, too: He worked a seven-pitch AB against Red Sox star Jonathan Lester for his double, fouling off several close pitches and generally looking like the awesome hitter he’s been for the Phillies.
In the fourth, Chase Utley they did something even more Chase Utley: He was hit by a pitch. Yes, Chase Utley took one for the team in the All-Star Game. The NL then inserted the speedy Dee Gordon in to pinch-run for him. Gordon scored easily from first on a Lucroy double, and the National League had tied the game.
Chase Utley is the first #Phillies player with an XBH and an RBI in the #AllStarGame since Mike Schmidt on August 9, 1981.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) July 16, 2014
The Phillies don’t have a huge history of success in the All-Star Game — Johnny Callison won the MVP in 1964 — but Utley put on a show not seen for 30-plus years last night.
The NL lost, 5-3, and Mike Trout — from that mythical town of Near Philly — won MVP.
