Sep 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Cal Stevenson (47) runs out an RBI double against the New York Mets during the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
On Pattison's countdown of the 15 best Phillies games of 2024 continues with a comeback victory immediately nicknamed "The Cal Stevenson Game."
15) April 16, 2024 - Ranger Suarez throws a complete game shutout
14) September 14, 2024 - The Cal Stevenson Game
A scorching hot Mets team visited Citizens Bank Park in mid-September for a three-game weekend series. The New Yorkers won 11 of 13 before coming to town, and in the Friday night game they lit up Aaron Nola en route to 11-3 beatdown of the Phillies.
In Saturday's game, it looked like more of the same early on. Kolby Allard started for the Phils and lasted just three innings, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks.
Down 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Bryce Harper put the Phillies on the board with a solo home run.
Bryce bomb 💣#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/chLfX2Tgzj
After Allard left the game, Taijuan Walker, recently demoted from the starting rotation, threw three scoreless relief innings to keep the game close.
"He's a great teammate," Phils manager Rob Thomson said of Walker after the game. "He's handled this like a pro."
As Walker kept the Mets' bats quiet, Harper launched another home run to make it a 4-3 ballgame in the sixth.
MV3 x 2#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/Nx1inCy7yr
Should this victory be nicknamed "The Bryce Harper and Cal Stevenson Game?" Technically, yes. But that doesn't exactly roll of the tongue.
In the bottom of the seventh, with runners on second and third and two outs, Stevenson ripped a double off the right field wall. The Phils took a 5-4 lead.
How about some extended calls from Franzke and Kruk for the Cal Stevenson Game™️
First, The Hit pic.twitter.com/hHvtIL0SMC
"Just a huge at-bat by Stevenson," Harper said afterwards.
But Stevenson wasn't finished. In the top of the eighth, he robbed Mets' designated hitter J.D. Martinez of a home run to preserve the Phillies' narrow lead.
🗣 IT'S THE CAL STEVENSON GAME! pic.twitter.com/mj3Axetyyr
Not bad, Cal.
JT Realmuto added an eighth-inning RBI double to make it 6-4, and Carlos Estevez closed it out in the ninth.
Stevenson, of course, received the wooderboys treatment during his post-game interview.
Photo via @Phillies on twitterThe Phillies may have gone on to play some other important games against the Mets in October. Not sure. But whatever happened there shouldn't detract from the magic of the The Cal Stevenson Game.
