Phillies Players Receive Hostile Welcome at Flyers Game
Members of the Philadelphia Phillies were met with a chorus of boos from fans attending Wednesday night's NHL playoff game between the Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The jeers came when the players were shown on the arena videoboard during a break in play, a stark contrast to the city's nickname "Brotherly Love."
Several players and their families attended the playoff tilt after their own game against the San Francisco Giants was postponed due to rain. The game was rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader on Thursday. The Phillies' ballpark, Citizens Bank Park, is a mere 10-minute walk from Xfinity Mobile Arena, making it an easy trip for the players.
According to reports, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Jesus Luzardo, and JT Realmuto were among the Phillies who attended the game and were seated in a private box. Realmuto, a noted hockey fan, was interviewed during the game by NBC Sports Philadelphia but made no mention of the reaction they received.
"It's awesome," Realmuto said of taking in Game 6. "You know, this team, they reminded us of a little October baseball being able to walk in here. It got rained out tonight, so we jumped at the chance to come over and support the Flyers." Realmuto also compared the current Flyers to the 2022 Phillies team that captured the National League pennant before losing the World Series to the Houston Astros.
Why Were the Phillies Booed?
Sports fans in Philadelphia have a history of being harsh to just about anyone — Eagles fans famously pelted Santa Claus with snowballs — and the Phillies haven't exactly covered themselves in glory early this MLB season. Touted as a playoff contender heading into the season, the Phillies currently have the second-worst record in baseball at 10-19. They are a half-game ahead of the New York Mets, but only by virtue of having Wednesday's game postponed.
On Tuesday, the team fired manager Rob Thomson, replacing the Canadian with former Blue Jays bench boss Don Mattingly. The team reportedly had offered the job to former Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who was fired last week, but he declined.
Who Won the Flyers-Penguins Game?
The Phillies and the Flyers faithful ended the night on a positive note, however. Philadelphia defenceman Cam York scored the overtime winner to give the Flyers a 1-0 win and eliminate the rival Penguins. Philly advances to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in six years and will face the Carolina Hurricanes, who completed their sweep of the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
