Game 62 - Clemens Launches Rocket to Walk it Off!

2023 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs #1

Phillies 3, Tigers 2
Game 62 - Thursday Night, June 8th in Philadelphia
Record - 30-32, 3rd Place, 8 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  After the Tigers took the lead in the top of the ninth, Kody Clemens walked it off with a game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth to give the Phillies a dramatic 3-2 win.

What It Means:  Air quality improved enough for this game to be played on Thursday night after Wednesday's cancellation.  Canadian wildfires have caused the Northeast to be blanketed in smoke for much of the week.

This win gave the Phillies a sweep of the Tigers, and moved them past the reeling Mets for sole possession of third place in the division.  The Dodgers come to town next for a weekend series.

What Happened:  For the third game in a row, a Phillies starting pitcher took a no-hitter deep into the game.  It was Zack Wheeler's turn on Thursday, as Wheeler held the Tigers hitless until Tyler Nevin singled with one out in the top of the eighth.  Seranthony Dominguez replaced Wheeler and immediately allowed the tying run to score.  Nick Maton again came through for his new team in the ninth, giving the Tigers a temporary 2-1 lead when he singled off Craig Kimbrel.

The Phillies' offense was largely quiet on the night, scoring their first run in the sixth on a Bryce Harper sacrifice fly.  In the bottom of the ninth, Harper led off with a double, went to third on a Bryson Stott single and scored the tying run on a Brandon Marsh sacrifice fly.  With Trea Turner on second, Clemens laced his game-winning double to right and the on-field celebration began.

Featured Card:  Clemens appears with the Tigers in Topps Series One, and he's the first card (shown here) in this year's IronPigs team set.  I wanted to make a limited edition card for his father, Roger Clemens, as The Rocket threw batting practice to a few Phillies players on Friday.  The photo here is from Phillies' beat writer Todd Zolecki.  I never thought I'd be making a custom Roger Clemens Phillies baseball card.

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