Sunday was almost a banner day for the two least experienced Phillies.
Brock Stassi had a chance to walk the Phillies off in the ninth inning, but hit an infield fly. Given the recent Stassi lovefest, Phillies fans might have wrote songs about him had he come through. (Cesar Hernandez did one batter later).
A few hours before Stassi's chance, fellow rookie Andrew Knapp picked up his first big-league hit. It was Knapp's second start behind the plate and it's one he'll remember forever.
In the fifth inning of Sunday's 4-3 Phils win (see Instant Replay), Knapp led off the fifth inning against Stephen Strasburg with a double down the third-base line. It was an important hit, too, as it set the tone in a two-run inning.
"It was pretty cool," Knapp said. "Honestly, I'm glad I got it out of the way early -- the first or second game in. I was kind of looking out over the plate. He didn't really throw me many fastballs the first at-bat, so I was going to be ready to jump on the first one I saw. I just took it the other way.
Knapp had walked in his first plate appearance, so in all, he reached base two of three times vs. Strasburg. That's no easy feat against one of the National League's most feared pitchers.
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That made it even more special for the 24-year-old Knapp.
"The first [hit] is going to be special no matter what, but against a guy like that, who's had such a great career, it's pretty cool to be able to say my first hit was off Stephen Strasburg. I'm honestly glad it's out of the way now and we can just go and play. It was a big win, so it was good."
Knapp has the ball and plans to give it to his dad. Unfortunately for the Knapps, his parents flew back home Saturday night.
"He's been pretty influential in my career," Knapp said of his old man. "I think it'd be a pretty cool treat to give him."
