Florida Spring Training 2017 - Day 26

Today was the first home game of the Grapefruit League for the Phillies.  The game against the University of Tampa on Thursday was really just an exhibition game.  They opened the spring season against the NY Yankees yesterday at the Yankees field in Tampa (the Phillies lost).

Before the game today, there were opening day ceremonies with speeches by Clearwater and Phillies officials. The first ball was thrown out by a 4-star Army general, General Raymond Thomas III, Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command headquartered at nearby McDill AFB.  He is from Philadelphia and he wore a Phillies hat with his uniform when throwing the ball (it was a strike).

Dave Montgomery, Retired Phillies President, battling cancer

General Raymond Thomas III

The Phillies won today.  It was a good game that they won in the 9th inning on a "walk-off" hit by one or their rookies.  The Phillies played most of their regular position players for the first few innings then switched over to their rookies/non-roster players trying to impress the staff and help their chances to make the team.  The Yankees did not bring their "A" team (most visiting teams do the same early in spring training as they also are evaluating their young players).  Nevertheless, it was a good game, the weather was great, and the beer was cold.

We cooked dinner in in the RV tonight.  Tomorrow is another "off" day with plans TBD.

Day 27 Pictures