500 texts and an IV: Phillips' night was wild
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ARLINGTON -- After every Rays win, the party inside the clubhouse includes loud music, vibrant lights and Kevin Kiermaier starting a jingle in order to recognize the players who contributed a key role in that particular game.
| Game | Date | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Oct. 20 | LAD 8, TB 3 | Watch |
| Gm 2 | Oct. 21 | TB 6, LAD 4 | Watch |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 23 | LAD 6, TB 2 | Watch |
| Gm 4 | Oct. 24 | TB 8, LAD 7 | Watch |
| Gm 5 | Oct. 25 | LAD 4, TB 2 | Watch |
| Gm 6 | Oct. 27 | LAD 3, TB 1 | Watch |
Shop for postseason gear: That party, naturally, was intensified after the Rays’ improbable and memorable 8-7 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday night. But as Kiermaier was ready to give Brett Phillips -- who became a club legend overnight -- the biggest shoutout of the season, the Game 4 hero was nowhere to be found.
It turns out Phillips was in the trainer’s room, recovering from dehydration after his now-iconic airplane ride across the field. Phillips had a resting heart rate of 140 after the game and needed an IV to help with the dehydration.
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“During the celebration, just exhausting a lot of energy, I almost passed out,” Phillips said. “Just a little hyperventilation going on, just excitement. But it was all worth it.”
That’s just the kind of 24 hours it’s been for Phillips. He received 500 text messages when he first grabbed his phone after the victory, staying up until 4 a.m. CT in order to respond to former teammates, friends and family members. Some of the notable players who reached out were Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright, A’s reliever Liam Hendriks and former Royals teammate Whit Merrifield.
“It was a special moment,” Phillips said.
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Before Phillips answered the hundreds of text messages, the outfielder contacted his wife, Brianna, via FaceTime, asking her about her thoughts on the game. His first question: “Were you there?”
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Well, the answer was a little more complicated -- or as Phillips put it, something that was meant to be.
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With the temperature in Arlington dropping below 50 degrees -- which feels much cooler for Florida residents -- and no real sign of Phillips getting an opportunity to contribute, much less win the game, members of Phillips’ family decided to head back to their hotel to watch the end of the back-and-forth game.
That included Brianna, who had flown in Saturday morning, his mother, his stepdad and members of Brianna’s family. The only family members who stuck around to watch Phillips' single off Kenley Jansen in the ninth were his sister, his father and his father's fiancée.
“I told them that I’m glad that they left,” Phillips joked. “I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, so who knows, had they stayed, if that would’ve happened? I’m sure they regret it a little bit, but I by no means got upset.”
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Phillips said he hasn’t gotten a chance to fully appreciate his accomplishment because the Rays are still looking to find a way to win two more games against the Dodgers. But he did acknowledge that the night was one he’ll never forget, dehydration and all.
“I’m just glad that people know me for some baseball videos now as opposed to laughing,” Phillips said, with a smile. “I’m glad I’m not just a movie star anymore.”