PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia sports fans have a long-standing reputation of being demanding. When their team is playing well, they are as supportive as it gets, but when they’re struggling or don’t play hard, fans certainly let you know about it.
The Phillies had a thrilling 4-3, 10-inning win against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, their second walk-off in as many days. This time, it was Jean Segura who launched an electric two-run single off the top of the left-center field wall.
However, the game went to extra innings because closer Héctor Neris allowed a game-tying home run in the ninth inning to Freddie Freeman that Odúbel Herrera couldn't rob.
Neris has been getting booed despite pitching well lately, which Phillies manager Joe Girardi addressed after the game.
“The one thing I would tell me players — look, the fans in Philly are extremely passionate and they want us to win,” Girardi said. “They’re not booing really who you are. That’s not saying that they don’t like you as a person. They just wanna win, and it’s their way of showing frustration when we don’t win. In a way, they’re really pulling for us, but when we don’t perform, they let us know, and I get it.”
And evidently, booing doesn’t always come from the fans. Girardi said the Phillies have high standards, too.
“We all wanna win here too. I’ve booed myself before,” he said.
The Phillies are 30-31 heading into their two-game weekend series against the New York Yankees, starting Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. There will very likely be more fans in the stands than there have been ever since the ballpark has been allowed to operate at full capacity.
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