Chase Utley, man. That guy sure knows how to play the villain like a regular Jack Parkman.
Utley delivered the ultimate F-You to the New York Mets on Saturday, his second game of a series that marked his first time playing in Citi Field since the infamous slide incident in last year’s playoffs.
As a refresher, Utley’s reckless slide broke Ruben Tejada’s leg during the NLDS against the Mets. He had a suspension overturned, but the slide led MLB to change its rules.
The slide became such a controversial point around baseball that it led the former longtime Phillie to become even more hated among NL East rival Mets fans. Their fans even sent him death threats.
On Friday, Utley proved he wasn’t shaken by the hostility from Mets fans by going 1-for-2 with 4 RBIs, including a bases-clearing double in the ninth to tie the game at five. On Saturday, he was even more productive.
First Utley struck out to lead off the game. When he faced Noah Syndergaard again in the third, the massive pitcher was ejected for throwing at Utley — and missing him — with a 99 mph heater. Utley struck out in that at-bat, too. But that would not portend what was to come.
Utley clubbed a solo shot in the sixth to break a scoreless game, all while Mets fans chanted “Hit him!”
Crowd chanting "hit him, hit him" and then Utley hits a bomb. Ultimate heel move. pic.twitter.com/Eu2gZFKST9
— Kevin Munie (@KMunie7) May 29, 2016
As if that weren’t enough, he then mashed a grand slam in the seventh to put the Dodgers up 6-0.
So let’s just recap:
– Utley is hated in New York
– Utley is booed by Mets fans who want the team to hit him
– Syndergaard is ejected for throwing at Utley but missing him
– Utley rebounds from two strikeouts to hit two home runs
Utley now has 38 career home runs against the Mets, the most he’s hit against any opponent. He just loves making their lives miserable.
