Monday, August 04

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Jhoan Duran’s entrance song and show in his first two games with the Phillies have lived up to the hype.

No Phillies closer has ever had anything like it.

Duran finished his warmup pitches in the ninth inning on both Friday and Sunday nights against the Tigers. The Undertaker’s gong rang. Duran (aka the Durantula) descended the bullpen stairs and stepped onto the warning track. The ballpark’s lights turned red. Farruko’s “El Incomprendido" (mixed with "Hot" by Pitbull and Daddy Yankee) played. Phillies fans cheered as they waved the flashlights on their phones.

“I still feel incredible,” Duran said. “It’s amazing.”

It got us thinking about the most memorable Phillies’ closer songs this century.

This list is subjective, of course. But it’s also correct.

1. Jhoan Duran (two saves, 2025).

2. Brad Lidge (100 saves, 2008-11). Drowning Pool’s “Soldiers.” If the technology existed, Lidge’s entrance could have rivaled Duran’s as “Soldiers” opens with air-raid sirens. It brings back memories of Lidge’s perfect ’08 season, when he went 48-for-48 in save opportunities, including Game 5 of the World Series.

3. Billy Wagner (59 saves, 2004-05). Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” Long before every team had a pitcher throwing 100 mph in the bullpen, there was Wagner, who was just inducted into the Hall of Fame. Phillies fans went wild when he picked up his first save in 2004, cheering and (kiddingly) booing every time he did or didn’t hit 100 mph. Fans might not remember, but the excitement surrounding Wagner’s arrival absolutely matched the current excitement for Duran.

4. Tom Gordon (42 saves, 2006-08). Queen’s “Flash.” Only pitcher whose entrance song matched his nickname. It’s tough to beat Queen.

5. Brett Myers (21 saves, 2002-09). P.O.D.’s “Lights Out.” Myers loved life as a closer. When he got the job in 2007, he narrowed his choices to four songs, then let the Philadelphia Inquirer post a poll on a defunct, but once popular Phillies blog. That song played before Myers pitched the ninth to clinch the 2007 NL East title on the final day of the season.

6. Matt Strahm (11 saves, 2023-25). Tim McGraw “How Bad Do You Want It?” It was Strahm’s warmup song in high school and college. He brought it back when he saw Tug McGraw’s plaque in the Phillies’ bullpen. It played before Strahm closed out the Braves in the 2023 NLDS.

7. José Mesa (112 saves, 2001-03, ’07). Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69.” Like Strahm, Mesa’s song has a great backstory. He bought a cassette of Adams’ “Reckless” album when he and his brother first got to the U.S. Mesa supposedly learned some English from it. The song meant something special to Mesa, so he used it in the ninth.

8. Jonathan Papelbon (123 saves, 2012-15). Papelbon had a bad time in Philly, but he set the franchise record in saves before they traded him to Washington in 2015. Papelbon had at least two entrance songs with the Phillies, including Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and Meek Mill’s “Bout That Life.” The first 30 seconds of “Bout That Life” was Ric Flair’s famous “spilt liquor” speech, which was fun. If the Phillies had won while Papelbon was here, he would’ve moved up the list.

9. José Alvarado (37 saves, 2021-25). He has used several songs over the years, but lately it has been Toño Rosario’s "Me Olvidé de Vivir." It suits him.

10. Jeff Hoffman (11 saves, 2023-24). Kid Cudi’s “Alive.”

11. Ryan Madson (52 saves, 2003-11). Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Believe Madson picked this tune after it played in San Francisco, and the Phillies came back to win a game.

12. Héctor Neris (84 saves, 2014-21). Musicologo’s “Bum Bam Ven.” Maybe it would have become a thing, if the Phillies had been a good team while he was here. They weren’t.

13. Craig Kimbrel (23 saves, 2023). Guns ‘N Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle.” He made the NL All-Star team and saved his 400th game in ’23. Then the NLCS happened.

14. Corey Knebel (12 saves, 2022). Godsmack’s “Rocky Mountain Way.”

15. Seranthony Domínguez (28 saves, 2018-24). He used several songs. He used a violin piece by Rema quite a bit. He also used Los Dos Carnales’ “El Borracho” and “Mis Raíces.”

16. Ian Kennedy (10 saves, 2021). Metallica’s “Sad But True.” Kennedy was the Phillies’ closer following the ’21 Trade Deadline. Remember?

17. Ken Giles (16 saves, 2014-15). Avenged Sevenfold's "Hail to the King." It’s hard to imagine this song becoming a thing in Philly, even if Giles had become a mainstay here.

18. Jeanmar Gómez (39 saves, 2015-17). Julissa's "El Gran Yo Soy.” Incredibly, Gómez is the last Phillies pitcher to save 30-plus games in a season (37 in 2016). Those were bleak days. Not a ninth-inning closer’s song.

The hold became an unofficial statistic in the 1980’s. Which Phillies reliever has the most career holds?

A. José Alvardo

B. Rhéal Cormier

C. Antonio Bastardo

D. Ryan Madson

Aug. 4, 2006: Chase Utley went 0-for-5 at Shea Stadium, ending his hitting streak at 35 games.

D. Madson.

He had 110 holds from 2003-11.

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