If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, then Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel has some big fans in Philadelphia.
Kimbrel took the mound against the Phillies in the ninth inning Saturday night, attempting to protect his team’s two-run lead despite the Citizens Bank Park crowd’s best efforts. A group of fans behind home plate banded together and mimicked the closer’s signature stance where he hunches over and extends his arms out wide before throwing a pitch.
Unfortunately for the creative Phillies fans, Kimbrel didn’t notice the distraction as he pitched his way out of some trouble and earned the save for the Braves. The closer was filled in on the shenanigans after the game by backup catcher Gerald Laird, though, and he certainly appreciated the humor of it all.
“It was quite funny after the fact,” Kimbrel told MLB.com. “I’m actually glad I didn’t see it while they were doing it because I might have laughed myself out there on the mound.
“I was locked in to doing what I was supposed to do,” Kimbrel said. “But yeah, that was actually kind of funny.”
