1994 Score Gold Rush #28 John Kruk

Nationals 4, Phillies 2
Game 118 - Friday Night, August 11th in Philadelphia

One Sentence Summary:  It wasn't Cole Hamels' or the offense's night, as the Nationals snuck by the Phillies, 4-2.

What It Means:  The Phillies are 77-41 and with the Braves winning tonight, they now have a 7 1/2 game lead in the East.

What Went Wrong:  Hamels (13-7) was in trouble from the start, walking two of the first three batters in the first, and he just didn't seem like himself tonight.  He lasted just five innings and gave up three runs on six hits and four walks.

The offense managed just four hits through the first eight innings as junk-baller Livan Hernandez (7-11) kept them completely off-balance.

Featured Card:  In an on-field ceremony prior to the game, John Kruk was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame.  He was introduced by former teammate, and 2010 Wall of Fame inductee, Darren Daulton, and Jim Eisenreich unveiled his plaque in Ashburn Alley.  Former Phillies greats and Wall of Fame members Mike Schmidt, Dick Allen, Steve Carlton, Jim Bunning, Garry Maddox, Greg Luzinski, Bob Boone, Dallas Green, Tony Taylor and Juan Samuel took part in the pre-game ceremony.  Here's the Phillies photo gallery from the festivities.

All of Kruk's baseball cards are great, but I especially like his cards from 1994.  They feature him as I best remember him - scruffy beard, scraggly mullet and all.

Field Report Detour to the ER:  We were on our way to the game tonight when our babysitter called to tell us that our 4-year-old son, Doug, had just cracked his head open playing in the backyard.  We turned the car around and rushed home to take him to the ER.  The poor kid needed two staples in the back of his head to close the wound.  I'm bummed I missed Kruk's induction ceremony, but I'm extremely grateful that Doug is doing OK after his tumble.  His recovery was aided by a ton of water ice and a new Star Wars man.