Stevenson the latest Phillies call-up to deliver a win in crazy 8th inning originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
On Monday, it was Kody Clemens and Buddy Kennedy.
On Tuesday, it was Cal Stevenson.
These Lehigh Valley IronPigs are sure making an impact on the National League playoff race.
Stevenson came off the bench with runners on second and third and one out in an eventful bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday night against the Rays and smashed a game-winning two-run double on a 2-2 count against Edwin Uceta.
It propelled the Phillies to a 9-4 win, their second late victory in a row over the Rays. They won via walk-off Monday night when Kennedy walked with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to load the bases and Clemens singled in the winning run.
“It’s probably the biggest at-bat I’ve had in my career,” Stevenson said. “You’re just trying to calm down and stay in the moment.”
Kennedy had another big plate appearance Tuesday, singling in Stevenson with two outs for additional insurance. It extended the inning for Trea Turner, who hit his second two-run homer of the game to break it open.
The inning got even crazier from there. Bryce Harper doubled to the opposite field and Uceta’s first pitch to Nick Castellanos was a 96 mph sinker to the left hip.
Castellanos immediately pointed and walked toward Uceta, removed his elbow guard and had to be held back by home plate umpire John Libka. From the other side, Harper also took exception and approached the mound from second base. The benches cleared and at one point a fuming Harper was surrounded by a handful of Rays, but no punches were thrown by either side.
Uceta was ejected.
Just 10 days ago, all three of Clemens, Stevenson and Kennedy were at Triple A Lehigh Valley. Clemens was called up on September 1 when rosters expanded from 26 to 28, Stevenson came up on September 5 when Austin Hays was placed on the injured list with a kidney infection and Kennedy came up a day later when Alec Bohm went on the IL with a left hand strain.
All the pieces matter and they’ve sure mattered this week for a banged-up team without Bohm, Hays, J.T. Realmuto, Edmundo Sosa. Kyle Schwarber also exited with a left elbow contusion/hyperextension three innings after setting the major-league record with his 14th leadoff home run of the season. Manager Rob Thomson is not concerned about the Schwarber injury.
The top three spots in the Phillies’ order — Schwarber (then Kennedy), Turner and Harper — combined to go 9-for-14 with…