WS champs Utley, Rollins throw out first pitches before Game 4
Thomas Harrigan
@HarriganMLBChase Utley and Jimmy Rollins know a thing or two about bringing a World Series championship to Philadelphia. So does Charlie Manuel.
So with the Phillies just two wins away from the third World Series title in franchise history -- and the first since Utley, Rollins and Co. raised the trophy in 2008 -- who better to get Game 4 started on the right foot for the Phils than their beloved former double-play duo and the skipper who guided them to Fall Classic glory?
With Manuel looking on, Utley and Rollins, who were teammates with the Phillies from 2003-14 and again with the Dodgers in '15, reunited at Citizens Bank Park to throw out the ceremonial first pitches prior to Wednesday¡¯s game.
Actors and Phillies superfans Rob McElhenney -- aka ¡°Mac¡± from ¡°It¡¯s Always Sunny in Philadelphia¡± -- and Miles Teller were on the receiving end of the first throws from Utley and Rollins.
Utley moved to England after being named MLB¡¯s ambassador to the United Kingdom over the summer, but he made the trip across the pond to support his former team in the Fall Classic. Utley was spotted on the jumbotron cheering on the Phils from a suite during Tuesday¡¯s game.
Philadelphia won Game 3 on Tuesday, 7-0, to take a 2-1 series lead over the Astros. Before the game, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth and Cole Hamels -- all of whom were part of the Phils¡¯ 2008 World Series championship-winning team -- caught ceremonial first pitches from Philly sports legends Mike Schmidt, Julius Erving, Bernie Parent and Brandon Graham.