PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Phillies fans see your ceremonial first pitch and raise you one ceremonial first double play.
Before Philadelphia’s second game against the New York Mets in the 2024 MLB London Series“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star, local bar owner and certified Philly sports fan Rob McElhenney threw the baseball tradition overboard.
After walking onto the mound Sunday morning, McElhenney appeared ready to throw his first pitch to former Phillies second baseman and World Series champion Chase Utley.
But right after he started his liquidation, McElhenney’s wife and… fellow “Sunny” costar Kaitlin Olson ran out of the dugout, waved at Utley and changed his plans.
“Kaitlin signals to the dugout. She’s calling Bryce Harper!’ the announcer at the London Stadium shouted to the crowd.
With McElhenney at shortstop, Harper on first and Utley on second, Olson hit a ball to her man, who threw the ball to Utley, who completed the play to Harper on first and undoubtedly secured the hypothetical out.
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“Let’s listen to what looks like the first ever ceremonial doubles!” the announcer said to the crowd of nearly 54,000 fans.
The Phillies, who currently have the best record in baseball, left Game 1 of the London Series on Saturday with a 7-2 victory over the fourth-place Mets in the NL East.
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And while they’re across the pond, the team says they’re making the most of their time abroad both on and off the field.
“I really enjoyed that people didn’t really realize who I am. So it was great to walk around and just be a different person,” Harper said Saturday.
“Media and stuff is very similar to the playoffs, but I think the overall feel is a little different than, say, when you go to the NLCS or the World Series,” Bryson Stott said. “But it’s a lot of fun and we’ve had a blast so far.”
The Phils are heading home after Sunday’s game, but they won’t be back in the City of Brotherly Love for much longer. A back-to-back road series begins Tuesday, June 11, first in Boston against the Red Sox and then in Baltimore to take on the AL East’s second-place Orioles.
