Chase Utley Steals the Show

Tonight marked the first time Chase Utley stepped into Citizens Bank Park as a visiting player. It was like he never left. When public address announcer Dan Baker announced the beloved second baseman to the plate, Chase’s familiar walkup song of ‘Kashmir’ was drowned out by the resounding standing ovation he received. The applause lasted a little over a minute while Chase saluted the crowd on two separate occasions. As Chase would’ve wanted it, it was all business from there.

All business for Chase means a 2-for-4 day with five RBIs against his former club of 13 years. His first at-bat concluded with a strikeout as Phils starter Vince Velasquez was dealing early. After a Howie Kendrick two-run home run in the fifth, it was Chase’s turn, to remind us what we don’t have anymore. He deposited a Velasquez pitch into the Phillies bullpen. “The man” sprinted around the bases while hearing cheers, he reached the dugout and gave the his former fans what they were looking for, a curtain call.

Sure, Chase homering in his return to Philadelphia is typical Chase; but that was just a small part of it.  Chase’s flair for the dramatic knows no bounds.  After Michael Mariot

relieved a struggling Elvis Araujo, Mr. Utley stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. As only Chase would do, he hit a grand slam! Again, with no emotion, Chase circled the bases as quickly as he did when he registered his first major league hit as a Phillie, which was also a grand slam. Fitting isn’t it?

Chase and the Dodgers would go on to pummel the Phils by a score of 15-5. In Phillies news, Cameron Rupp, Cesar Hernandez, and Ryan Howard all went yard.

In case you missed it, here is the warm welcome Philadelphia gave the most beloved Phillies player in franchise history.