The Philadelphia Phillies have been doing just about everything right since May 16, when a fan raised a crucifix — an act that may have sparked a run of good fortune, or perhaps it was just coincidence. Either way, the team is now riding an unstoppable hot streak.
The crucifix moment came during the opening game of a series against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. An unidentified fan in the outfield raised a crucifix with both hands, and the Phillies responded by erupting for seven runs to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win 8-4.
That Pirates series accounted for the first three wins of what has now become a 7-0 streak since the crucifix appeared. Most recently, the Phillies added another dominant win in Colorado, shutting out the Rockies 4-0 to open a four-game set.
Comparing the Phillies before and after the crucifix
Prior to May 16 — the day of the crucifix — the Phillies hadn’t strung together a winning streak this long. Their previous best came between April 26 and 30, when they won four straight games. In the six days leading up to the so-called “holy day,” they had managed just four wins in seven games.
Several other notable events have followed the May 16 turning point. Just two days later, on May 18, the Phillies surprised everyone by starting top prospect Mick Abel. The young right-hander delivered a historic outing with nine strikeouts in what became a breakout performance.
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Lethal offense
Over the past seven games, the Phillies have scored a total of 41 runs — an average of 5.85 per game. That’s a high scoring pace for them over such a short stretch. On the defensive side, they’ve been just as sharp, allowing only 18 runs in total, or 2.57 per game.
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