Quite the anthem

We just witnessed one of the more unique performances of the national anthem you’ll ever see. Dale Badway, who has performed on Broadway, sang the “Star Spangled Banner” while walking from side to side behind home plate.

He sang with energy, passion, heart.

And when he was finished, Badway bowed to the crowd and fist-pumped the Phillioes as he made his way past their dugout and up the third base side of the stands.

I think I could detect a smile on Joe Maddon’s face as he stood at attention on the top step of the dugout.

Now, the game.

The Rays went down in order in the first inning against Phillies starter Cole Hamels.

Rays starter Matt Garza has looked sharper.

Jimmy Rollins opened the inning with a drive into the right-center field gap that Jon Weber ran down. Then Garza airmailed his throw to first on Shane Victorino’s bunt into the seats behind first base. Victorino went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Ryan Howard’s sac fly to left.

Phillies 1, Rays 0

Garza also walked Chase Utley.