Marathon at the Vet: Phillies 7, Dodgers 6 (20 innings)

It was a sweltering 94°F evening at Veterans Stadium when 41,730 fans filed in to watch the Philadelphia Phillies—rolling through a dream season—host the Los Angeles Dodgers. What began as a routine summer matchup would become a historic test of grit, lasting 6 hours and 10 minutes, ending at 1:47 AM.

The Phillies, leading the NL East and riding a wave of confidence, came into the game expecting business as usual. With Terry Mulholland on the mound and a potent lineup of Dykstra, Kruk, Daulton, and Eisenreich, the team had a formidable presence. The Dodgers countered with Tom Candiotti, a knuckleballer, and an equally competitive squad.

Chaos in the Ninth

After eight strong innings, Philadelphia led 5–3 thanks to timely hits from John Kruk, who homered, and Dykstra, who sparked the offense. But closer Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams lived up to his nickname in the ninth inning. He walked the bases loaded, then walked in a run, cutting the lead to one. When Williams lost his temper over a strike call and was ejected, Larry Andersen entered but couldn’t stop the bleeding. Another walk and a sac fly tied the game at five.

What followed was nothing short of baseball purgatory.

Extra Innings: A Twilight Zone

From the 10th to the 19th inning, neither team managed to score. Pitchers dug deep into their reserves. Rookie Mike Williams made his major league debut in spectacular fashion, tossing six shutout innings in relief. The game became a war of attrition. Dodger hitter José Offerman collected four hits. Phillies veteran Mariano Duncan misplayed a grounder. Every play carried the weight of finality—and yet, finality refused to arrive.

The 20th Inning

In the top half of the 20th, a throwing error by Kim Batiste allowed the Dodgers to finally break the deadlock and take a 6–5 lead. The air seemed to drain from the stadium.

But in the bottom of the inning, the Phillies pulled off one last miracle.

  • Jim Eisenreich singled.
  • Mickey Morandini followed with another single.
  • Rookie Kevin Stocker, who had already played a dozen innings in his MLB debut, laid down a sacrifice bunt.
  • Then came Lenny Dykstra, already with a homer under his belt. With the count full, Dykstra ripped a ground-rule double into the right-field corner, scoring two.

Phillies win, 7–6. Bedlam.

Voices from the Marathon

Kevin Stocker, breathless and awestruck after debuting in a 20-inning game: “A night of firsts. Not my first hit, but first error, first strikeout, first walk, first bunt.”

Lenny Dykstra, who drove in the walk-off runs: “It was a big win because we had been in command all along, before we ran into trouble.”

Mitch Williams, on his ejection: “There was no way that last pitch wasn’t a strike.”

Reliever Larry Andersen on the crowd: “The crowd seemed to be getting bigger the longer the games left. When the bars let out people came out to the ballpark to be a part of it.”

Full Box Score Summary

You can view the full box score on Baseball-Reference, but here’s a snapshot:

TeamsRHE
Dodgers6171
Phillies7124

Philadelphia Highlights:

  • Lenny Dykstra: 3-for-9, HR, double, 3 RBIs
  • John Kruk: 2-for-7, HR, 2 RBIs
  • Jim Eisenreich: 2-for-7
  • Mike Williams (W): 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R

Los Angeles Highlights:

  • José Offerman: 4-for-9
  • Cory Snyder: 2 RBIs
  • Tom Candiotti: 6 IP, 3 ER

Aftermath & Legacy

This wasn’t just a game—it was an experience. The Phillies went on to capture the NL pennant that year, ultimately falling to the Blue Jays in a heartbreaking World Series. But this 20-inning win stood out as a symbol of the team’s determination and madness.

It was also a fan’s dream—a vivid lesson in sticking around because magic can happen at any moment. From rookies rising to the occasion to veterans pulling off clutch plays, the night of July 7, 1993 remains etched in baseball lore.