PHILADELPHIA Buddy Kennedy, a native of Millville, New Jersey, grew up idolizing players from the 2008 Phillies championship teamRyan Howard, Chase Utley https://www.philliesplayerfanstore.com/freddy_tarnok_jersey-269, Jayson Werth, Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins, and Brad Lidge. On Monday night, Kennedy finally experienced what it felt like to come through in a clutch moment, just like the players he once admired.

In a tense 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies found themselves with runners on first and second, and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kennedy Johan Rojas Jersey, who had appeared in 46 big league games over the past three seasons before the Phillies acquired him from Detroit for cash on June 7, stepped up to the plate. Having put together impressive numbers with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Kennedy had been called up again this weekend after Alec Bohm was placed on the 10-day injured list.

With a chance to be a hero for his hometown team, Kennedy took the first pitch from Rays lefty Garrett Cleavinger, which missed for a ball. The crowd of 39, 511 quickly began chanting his name: "Buddy! Buddy! Buddy!"



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