Ben & Doug's Amazing Autograph Adventure at the @Phillies Game

Pre-game preparations

Eickhoff signing for Doug & Ben

Braves 7, Phillies 1
Game 42 - Friday Night, May 20th in Philadelphia
Record - 24-18, 2nd place, 2 games behind the Nationals

One Sentence Summary:  Bad defense and a quiet offense led to an easy 7-1 win for the Braves over the Phillies.

What It Means:  The Phils were so close to first place and now, thanks in part to the red hot Nationals, they're still in second place, two games back.

What Happened:  The Braves hit three two-run home runs (two from Freddie Freeman) and Maikel Franco committed two big errors.  The offense managed six hits and went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

Aaron Nola pitched seven innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits.


Featured Cards/Field Report:  We decided to splurge last night and get four tickets in Section 115, five rows from the field, right behind first base and just off the corner of the Phillies dugout.  It was Bark in the Park night, so while 360 dogs paraded around the warning track, our boys Doug and Ben positioned themselves at the edge of the Phillies dugout with their new (more on that later) photo card sets and two Sharpies.

After about 25 minutes of waiting, the Phillies young players did not disappoint these two eager autograph seekers.  Jared Eickhoff was the first to acknowledge them, followed by Adam Morgan, Odubel Herrera, David Lough and Tommy Joseph.  Joseph was omitted from the second team-issued photo card set, so the boys had to get creative.  Doug had Joseph sign his hat (after receiving a "What's up, bro" from Joseph) and Ben had him sign his Phillie Phanatic card.


The boys capped their autograph seeking with a final autograph from Phillies broadcaster Gregg Murphy.  The game itself was lousy, but Jenna and both boys found themselves on Phanavision during one of the between innings breaks, which absolutely thrilled our youngest son Ben.  We got to see the Phanatic dance on the dugout and we wisely left the game right before Brett Oberholtzer served up Freeman's second home run.

It was a great night, and one I won't soon forget.  The players who signed for our boys gained lifelong fans, and what's best is that both our boys have already asked when we can all go back again.

Joseph signing Doug's hat

Recently added to The Phillies Room - 2016 Season Summary page with game results and links to game summary posts.