The team took the field less than 12 hours after ending last night's 19-inning, 6-hour, 11-minute-long marathon game early Thursday morning.
"I stayed for all 19 innings. And we have a long way to go, too," said Randy Ward, referring to his ride home after the game to Frederica, Del.
Last night's game ended like an odd but good dream with second baseman Wilson Valdez pitching in the 19th while catcher Carlos Ruiz played third.
"I couldn't go to bed because I had to see how it was going to come out. It was terrific," said Jeanne Pawnall of Andorra.
"I was lying in bed watching them. I fell asleep, I rolled over and woke up again and here they were still playing!" said Grace Perry of Sicklerville, N.J. "I fell asleep again, I woke up, they're still playing. And they won! That was great."
The long game meant a quick turnaround for stadium workers, too.
"Like a catnap. Go home, lie down, get back up, like a human alarm clock. Get back here and start all over again," said Joe Tann.
In contrast to last night, most of the fans left the game today before the top of the 9th, less than three hours after the game started.
Short game or long, fans say this team has what it takes to win.
"That means that they're a team," said Anthony Wilson of Southwest Philadelphia. "They're a real team. And it doesn't take just individuals, but it's as a collective. They're our team."
"It just shows that they have a great foundation," said Jeff Sperling of Northeast Philadelphia. "And the manager knows how to position his players so no matter what, they're going to come up winning."
