Monday, September 22, 2014

2014 Panini Prizm Blue Mojo Prizms #17 Ryan Howard

Athletics 8, Phillies 6 (10 Innings)
Game 156 - Sunday Afternoon, September 21st in Oakland
Record - 71-85, 5th Place, 20 1/2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  The A's won a long, sloppy game in the 10th when Josh Donaldson hit a walk-off home run against Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez.

What It Means:  Will this infernal season ever end?

What Happened:  To their credit, the Phillies offense battled back in this one, tying it up at three in the third and again at six in the sixth.  Marlon Byrd led the way with two doubles and three RBIs.  Byrd and Ryan Howard obtained an ignominious achievement in this game, becoming the first pair of teammates in baseball history to each strike out 180 times.  (Hat tip to Matt Gelb via Twitter.)

A.J. Burnett had a horrible outing, getting yanked in the fifth after allowing six runs on three hits, six walks and two hit batters.  The bullpen walked the tightrope until the tenth, holding the A's scoreless.  Gonzalez retired the first batter he saw in the 10th, but then allowed a single and Donaldson's dramatic game-winning home run.

Featured Card:  I'm at a complete loss here.  Flipping through my 2014 Phillies binder, this is easily the shiniest card in there and Howard did go 2 for 4 in this game to raise his average to .223 on the season . . . so I guess I'll go with this card.  Lord knows the Phils could use a little mojo as they approach the final six games of the season.

2 comments:

Steve F. said...

"Byrd and Ryan Howard obtained an ignominious achievement in this game, becoming the first pair of teammates in baseball history to each strike out 180 times."

Uh, Chachi Record Breaker card, anyone?

Jim said...

This and the Papelbon crotch grab might be part of a very limited "Low Lights" series!