Jun 14, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) celebrates with first baseman Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a first inning solo home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
On Pattison's countdown of the 15 best Phillies games of 2024 concludes in Baltimore, with the "World Series preview" that wasn't.
15) April 16, 2024 - Ranger Suarez throws a complete game shutout
14) September 14, 2024 - The Cal Stevenson game
13) May 18, 2024 - Kody Clemens ninth-inning home run
12) July 9, 2024 - Phillies clobber Dodgers, 10-1, in first game of series sweep
11) June 18, 2024 - Nick Castellanos walk-off double against Padres
10) June 24, 2024 - Phillies turn 1-3-5 triple play
9) April 30, 2024 - Castellanos and Rojas hit ninth-inning bombs against Angels
8) June 3, 2024 - Rhys Hoskins returns to Philly as a Brewer
7) October 6, 2024 - Nick Castellanos NLDS walk-off single
6) September 3, 2024 - Kyle Schwarber hits three home runs in wild comeback win over Toronto
5) April 2, 2024 - Bryce Harper hits three home runs in early-season win over Reds
4) September 1, 2024 - Nick Castellanos walk-off single in 11th inning against Braves
3) June 28, 2024 - Cristopher Sanchez throws a complete game shutout
2) August 15, 2024 - Weston Wilson hits for cycle in 13-3 win over the Nationals
1) June 14, 2024 - Extra-inning win in Baltimore
A list like this necessitates a lot of tough calls. But the top spot was never up for much debate.
The Phillies arrived in Baltimore on June 14 with a five-game lead over the Dodgers for the best record in the National League. At 47-22, the Fightins were on a 110-win season pace.
The Orioles, meanwhile, were 45-24. A 106-win season pace. The scene was set for a heavyweight brawl.
📍 Baltimore#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/r8AFhJO73p
Phillies fans came down to Maryland for the series by the busload, making the crowd something close to a 50/50 split between fans in orange and fans in red.
43,987 here tonight. Baltimore’s second sellout of the season. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/3eUPKgtoTh
Kyle Schwarber quickly gave the Philadelphians something to cheer about.
Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish hadn't allowed a home run in the 2024 season. But he also hadn't faced Schwarbs.
Well hello there Schwarbs!#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/YHoUWeP7yE
Adley Rutschman and the Orioles counter-punched in the third.
All the little things Ad up. pic.twitter.com/Auwxz05dXI
But Ranger Suarez was at the top of his game. He entered the day with a 10-1 record and the Phillies were 13-1 in his 14 starts.
Suarez also entered the day with a 1.81 ERA... and somehow managed to lower it against a stacked Baltimore lineup.
Make some noise for Mr. Rager!! 😤 pic.twitter.com/uUCYHMw2U5
Rafael Marchan gave the Phillies another lead in the fifth.
Ring it, Rafael!!#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/umY6ymIU5f
But the O's were not going to go down without a fight. Matt Strahm had a 0.67 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP before he threw this eight-inning pitch to Baltimore outfielder Anthony Santander.
TIE GAME TATER pic.twitter.com/zgRDpZppQF
And so the game went to extras.
Schwarber hit a two-out, bases-loaded single in the top of the tenth to give the Phils the lead once again. But Johan Rojas, one of the fastest men in baseball, was gunned down at home trying to score an insurance run from second. Santander made the throw.
Kyle Schwarber with a RBI Single to put the Phillies up 3-2 in the 10th Sosa was out at the plate and Phillies are challenging the call #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/6uQF92ulGl
Then the Phillies made this play in the bottom of the tenth and won the game!
Except they didn't.
Out call to end the game is overturned. Phillies escape the inning tied.
It just started pouring rain in Bmore. pic.twitter.com/K9VTEBOqU9
An hour-long rain delay gave everyone time to get ready for the 11th inning. It was a wild scene at Camden Yards.
When play finally resumed, Nick Castellanos popped out and the Orioles intentionally walked Bryce Harper.
Alec Bohm stepped to the plate.
Bang.
There we go Bohmer!!! pic.twitter.com/3p0wGRLONg
Future Oriole Seranthony Dominguez pitched a clean bottom of the eleventh (retiring future Phillie Austin Hays, among others). And the Phillies won the closest thing to a World Series game that they would play in 2024.
Crowd reaction to the final out. Is this Baltimore? Philly? London?#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/BV6FCFn0rl
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BONUS: This happened the next day. Love you Tim Kelly, but you gotta make a play here!
A Nick Castellanos foul ball into the press box just broke my laptop 😬😬 pic.twitter.com/y2CXKzjrN1
