The Phillies will have to get hot in the final two weeks of the season if they are to chase down first-place Atlanta. But that's not why five blowtorches flamed the infield dirt on Monday afternoon.
The team's series opener against the Nationals seemed to be in jeopardy after the Citizens Bank Park grounds crew rolled off the tarp Monday afternoon to find a soaked infield. That led them to try "something creative," said Howard Smith, the Phillies vice president of business affairs.
The team rented blowtorches to dry the infield. Smith and Phillies manager Gabe Kapler expect Monday night's game to be played.