Aaron Rowand is a GOD!

Rowand hurt on great catch in win
By Rob Parent
Inquirer Staff Writer

Perhaps there haven't been many championship memories in Phillies history, but certainly there have been memorable catches.

Richie Ashburn had to make a sliding catch or 100 on Shibe Park's grass. Lenny Dykstra undoubtedly crashed into the center-field fence at Veterans Stadium a time or two.

Then there was "The Catch" at Citizens Bank Park last night, the one that preceded a long rain delay but wound up being the key play in a 2-0 Phillies win over the New York Mets. The game was shortened to five innings by rain, but it began with a historic grab by Phils centerfielder Aaron Rowand.

In catching a drive by Mets rightfielder Xavier Nady, Rowand wound up crashing face-first into a metal bar topping a chain-link fence in center, and wiped out what would likely have been a three-run triple in the first inning.


From a related story:

Jimmy Rollins was one of the first on the scene after Rowand's beautiful yet ugly catch-and-crash.

The catch likely ranked up there with the best in team history, but Rowand might have paid the dearest price for one. He wound up with a broken nose and facial lacerations that are expected to require surgery today at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

"It was pretty nasty out there," Rollins said. "It wasn't just the nose, he also had a laceration just under his eye. He's a tough dude."