Having spent the bulk of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chase Utley has grown plenty accustomed to the New York Mets and their rabid fan base. The group is known for their vitriol, and Utley cemented his status as Public Enemy No. 1 during the 2015 National League Division Series.
A hard slide into second base that sparked the Dodgers to a comeback win in Game 2 also resulted in then-Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada suffering a season-ending injury (fractured fibula). When the Dodgers traveled east for Games 3 and 4, Utley was booed and the subject of taunts at every turn.
The same held true during the regular season last year, and again on Friday night. Utley all the while has maintained his same stoic demeanor.
Following the Dodgers’ shutout win, he spoke fondly of Mets fans who continue to have Utley in their crosshairs, via Chris Bumbaca of MLB.com
“I think that’s the nature of the sport,” Utley said. “I’ve been playing here for a long time. I’ve heard boos for probably 12, 15 years now. “They let us know when we were in town,” Utley said of his Phillies days. “They were loud. They were definitely booing. They have a great fan base and I have a lot of respect for them.”
Utley once again seemed to thrive in the hostile environment, as he slugged a two-run home run to the upper deck in right field off Mets left-handed reliever Josh Smoker. The blast gave the Dodgers a 5-0 lead and was their 18th home run in five games with the Mets this season.
For Utley, the home run was the 38th of his career against the Mets, which is tied for eighth all-time. It’s a personal-best mark for the 12-year veteran, with the Miami Marlins next on the list (30 career home runs).
When Noah Syndergaard appeared to intentionally throw at Utley during a game at Citi Field last season, he offered no reaction or change in body language. Syndergaard was immediately ejected, and Utley went on to hit a solo home run and grand slam in the Dodgers’ rout.
