Kody Clemens hit a single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning after Tampa Bay had tied the game in the top of the inning, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 win over the Rays on Monday night.
Kyle Schwarber hit a home run, and Cristopher Sánchez pitched six scoreless innings to help the Phillies, who are leading the NL East, start a six-game homestand with their 48th home win of the season. The Phillies were tied with the Dodgers for the most home wins in baseball.
“That’s a backyard dream,” Clemens said. “For that moment to come up and get the job done, it’s obviously pretty cool.”
Brandon Lowe hit the tying home run for the Rays, who were five games behind a wild-card spot in the American League.
Manuel Rodríguez got the first out in the bottom of the ninth before being replaced by Garrett Cleavinger (3-5), who loaded the bases with two outs on two singles and a walk.
Clemens then hit a 1-0, 95-mph sinker into right field, prompting loud “KO-DY! KO-DY!” cheers from the crowd of 39,511. “He can hit,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.
Clemens’ big moment came after a walk by minor-league call-up Buddy Kennedy, a local Millville native and the grandson of former Phillies infielder Don Money. Fans chanted “BUD-DY! BUD-DY!” during Kennedy’s at-bat.
“It was something very special, and I’ll always remember that for the rest of my life,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy received several texts after the game and expects to exchange messages with star slugger Mike Trout, another Millville native.
“I was getting chills,” Clemens said about hearing the chants while waiting for his turn.
Carlos Estévez (4-4) missed his fifth save and second in six tries with the Phillies since being traded before the July deadline. Lowe led off the ninth inning with a pinch-hit drive to deep center.
