The start of Major League Baseball’s Rivalry Weekend collection between the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates was additionally an ending of kinds. Earlier than the season, NBC Sports activities Philadelphia introduced it was altering the Phillies’ emblem on its scorebug from the letter “P” to “PHI.”
Usually, that might not be a narrative worthy of headlines. However by doing so, the printed disadvantaged followers of a easy pleasure in life: seeing a “P00P” scoreboard at any time when the Phillies confronted off towards the Pirates.
On Friday night time, the community determined to pay tribute to that “gone however by no means forgotten” scorebug.
“It was greater than only a scoreboard. It was a legend,” Phillies announcer Tom McCarthy solemnly learn. “An unforgettable icon. Its identify, as soon as met with chuckles, shortly grew to become synonymous with good occasions and fierce rivalries. As the ultimate out arrives on its vibrant and sensible run, it will likely be missed.”
It was a pleasant, but absurd, begin to a recreation that adopted an analogous theme.
Bryce Harper reached 1,000 RBIs and was a part of a wild seventh-inning rally during which the Phillies scored 4 runs on only one hit in an 8-4 victory.
Harper, who had three hits and reached base 4 occasions, picked up his milestone RBI with a bloop single to left area off Pirates starter Andrew Heaney. Harper is one in every of eight energetic gamers with 1,000 RBIs.
The Phillies scored 4 runs within the seventh inning when six consecutive batters — together with Harper — reached base towards three relievers. Just one — Trea Turner — had successful. The others all reached base by way of a stroll or successful by pitch, and three of the 4 runs scored with out a ball being put in play.
Philadelphia tacked on three extra runs within the eighth inning. Turner had an RBI triple, and Harper added No. 1,001 with a single.
Pirates interim supervisor Don Kelly was ejected from the sport by third base umpire John Libka after arguing Libka’s name of no swing on Harper that resulted in a stroll to load the bases.
Presumably, Kelly thought the decision was, effectively, let’s simply say paying homage to the Phillies’ outdated scorebug.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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