GaryMrMets
05-29-2004, 07:50 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8790813.htm
Posted on Sat, May. 29, 2004
Phils' Perez homers in 10th to jolt Braves
By Jim Salisbury
Inquirer Staff Writer
A flurry of body punches. A noogie. Three full cans of shaving cream.
That was Tomas Perez's reward for the 10th-inning home run that gave the Phillies a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves last night at Citizens Bank Park.
"Payback is tough," manager Larry Bowa said after watching Perez circle the bases, then receive a home-plate beating from his teammates. "I just hope he's not on the disabled list now."
Oh, yeah, and Perez, the man who popularized the shaving-cream pie for heroic teammates, received an avalanche-sized whitewash as he did a postgame interview on the field. "I have to enjoy this," Perez said, "because it doesn't happen a lot to me."
The affable super-sub was in the lineup only because sore-fingered Jim Thome needed a night off.
"I was surprised I was in the lineup," Perez said. "But every time I come to the stadium, I'm ready to play."
Even when Thome is not in the lineup, he helps the Phillies win. Perez, you see, has been using one of Thome's bats lately. The bat produced a game-tying double in the bottom of the eighth inning and the game-winning homer.
"The bat he uses is unbelievable," Perez said.
Perez's homer came on a 2-1 sinker from Antonio Alfonseca. Perez pulled it over the wall in right-center, leaving 40,187 fans jumping for joy and the neon Liberty Bell clanging.
The homer capped a night of offensive frustration for the Phillies, who left 13 men on base and were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
"We need to get more consistent offensively," Bowa said. "It's hard to rely on the home run all the time. It's not easy to hit home runs."
There were other heroes besides Perez, particularly relievers Ryan Madson, Rheal Cormier and Tim Worrell, who delivered four scoreless innings in relief of Randy Wolf.
Wolf missed his last start with elbow tendinitis. He returned to pitch six innings and throw 89 pain-free pitches. Wolf allowed two runs, only one of which was earned. The other run scored as a result of a Perez error in the second inning.
"That was on my mind all night," Perez said. "I said to myself, 'I have to do something to help us tie this game.' "
Braves starter Mike Hampton pitched 62/3 innings and was charged with one run. It came in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk by reliever Kevin Gryboski. Perez's game-tying double, which scored Chase Utley from first, came off reliever Chris Reitsma. Utley had singled.
Hampton frustrated the Phillies much of the night. They had an excellent scoring chance against Hampton in the sixth inning. Pat Burrell walked and David Bell doubled, putting runners on second and third with one out.
With first base open and a lefthanded-hitting Utley on deck, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox elected to have Hampton pitch to Mike Lieberthal, who had singled and doubled in his first two at-bats. The strategy worked.
Hampton straightened Lieberthal up with an up-and-in fastball with the count 1-2. Hampton then got Lieberthal to flail at a dead-fish change-up off the outside corner for the second out.
The scoring chance was then entrusted to Utley. He hit the ball hard, but right back at Hampton, who made a nice play to end the inning. But the Phils erased the Atlanta lead with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
The game began ominously for the Braves as they made three lineup changes because of injury in the first two innings.
Julio Franco, who was scheduled to bat second and play first base, was a last-minute scratch with a stiff back.
Chipper Jones left the game after being plunked near the left knee by Wolf in the first inning. The sound of Wolf's pitch hitting Jones' leg was audible high above home plate. Jones will not play today.
In the second inning, Adam LaRoche, who had replaced Franco in the lineup, had to leave after taking a tumble while being cut down at the plate. LaRoche suffered a separated shoulder and will go on the disabled list.
The Braves scored one run in that inning after a pair of singles by Johnny Estrada and Mark DeRosa were followed by Perez's error. The damage could have been worse if DeRosa and LaRoche hadn't been cut down at the plate after a bunt and a ground ball back to the pitcher.
Atlanta increased its lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Chipper Jones' replacement, Dewayne Wise, smacked a solo homer to right.
Wolf did not allow a run the rest of his stay.
Posted on Sat, May. 29, 2004
Phils' Perez homers in 10th to jolt Braves
By Jim Salisbury
Inquirer Staff Writer
A flurry of body punches. A noogie. Three full cans of shaving cream.
That was Tomas Perez's reward for the 10th-inning home run that gave the Phillies a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves last night at Citizens Bank Park.
"Payback is tough," manager Larry Bowa said after watching Perez circle the bases, then receive a home-plate beating from his teammates. "I just hope he's not on the disabled list now."
Oh, yeah, and Perez, the man who popularized the shaving-cream pie for heroic teammates, received an avalanche-sized whitewash as he did a postgame interview on the field. "I have to enjoy this," Perez said, "because it doesn't happen a lot to me."
The affable super-sub was in the lineup only because sore-fingered Jim Thome needed a night off.
"I was surprised I was in the lineup," Perez said. "But every time I come to the stadium, I'm ready to play."
Even when Thome is not in the lineup, he helps the Phillies win. Perez, you see, has been using one of Thome's bats lately. The bat produced a game-tying double in the bottom of the eighth inning and the game-winning homer.
"The bat he uses is unbelievable," Perez said.
Perez's homer came on a 2-1 sinker from Antonio Alfonseca. Perez pulled it over the wall in right-center, leaving 40,187 fans jumping for joy and the neon Liberty Bell clanging.
The homer capped a night of offensive frustration for the Phillies, who left 13 men on base and were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
"We need to get more consistent offensively," Bowa said. "It's hard to rely on the home run all the time. It's not easy to hit home runs."
There were other heroes besides Perez, particularly relievers Ryan Madson, Rheal Cormier and Tim Worrell, who delivered four scoreless innings in relief of Randy Wolf.
Wolf missed his last start with elbow tendinitis. He returned to pitch six innings and throw 89 pain-free pitches. Wolf allowed two runs, only one of which was earned. The other run scored as a result of a Perez error in the second inning.
"That was on my mind all night," Perez said. "I said to myself, 'I have to do something to help us tie this game.' "
Braves starter Mike Hampton pitched 62/3 innings and was charged with one run. It came in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk by reliever Kevin Gryboski. Perez's game-tying double, which scored Chase Utley from first, came off reliever Chris Reitsma. Utley had singled.
Hampton frustrated the Phillies much of the night. They had an excellent scoring chance against Hampton in the sixth inning. Pat Burrell walked and David Bell doubled, putting runners on second and third with one out.
With first base open and a lefthanded-hitting Utley on deck, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox elected to have Hampton pitch to Mike Lieberthal, who had singled and doubled in his first two at-bats. The strategy worked.
Hampton straightened Lieberthal up with an up-and-in fastball with the count 1-2. Hampton then got Lieberthal to flail at a dead-fish change-up off the outside corner for the second out.
The scoring chance was then entrusted to Utley. He hit the ball hard, but right back at Hampton, who made a nice play to end the inning. But the Phils erased the Atlanta lead with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
The game began ominously for the Braves as they made three lineup changes because of injury in the first two innings.
Julio Franco, who was scheduled to bat second and play first base, was a last-minute scratch with a stiff back.
Chipper Jones left the game after being plunked near the left knee by Wolf in the first inning. The sound of Wolf's pitch hitting Jones' leg was audible high above home plate. Jones will not play today.
In the second inning, Adam LaRoche, who had replaced Franco in the lineup, had to leave after taking a tumble while being cut down at the plate. LaRoche suffered a separated shoulder and will go on the disabled list.
The Braves scored one run in that inning after a pair of singles by Johnny Estrada and Mark DeRosa were followed by Perez's error. The damage could have been worse if DeRosa and LaRoche hadn't been cut down at the plate after a bunt and a ground ball back to the pitcher.
Atlanta increased its lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Chipper Jones' replacement, Dewayne Wise, smacked a solo homer to right.
Wolf did not allow a run the rest of his stay.