The Philadelphia Phillies dropped two of three from the Texas Rangers in their opening series of the 2026 season. The Phillies secured a 5-3 win on Opening Day, but folded in back-to-back losses over the weekend. During the series, Phillies fans saw an old friend in outfielder Andrew McCutchen. Phillies fans feared what could happen while facing the veteran, and his fan interaction during Sunday's series finale emphasized that feeling of dread: we all knew he was gonna come through after being disrespected by the Pirates this offseason.
With the Phillies looking to hold the deficit at just two in the top of the fourth inning, McCutchen took a 97.9 mph fastball from Phils left-hander Jesús Luzardo and roped it at 105.7 mph off the bat into the left field corner for a three-run home run to balloon the deficit to 5-0. The Phillies couldn't supply enough offense to answer back and inevitably fell 8-3.
Andrew McCutchen put on a show over the weekend, and Phillies fans couldn't believe it
After McCutchen delivered the blow to Luzardo and the Phillies, a fan started chirping at McCutchen as he made his way back to the visitors dugout.
The fan started giving McCutchen a hard time about beating up on his old team, and McCutchen acknowledged the fan by apologizing, but with a grin from ear to ear.
"I'm sorry!" 🤷♂️
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2026
This interaction between Andrew McCutchen and a Phillies fan is priceless 🤣 https://t.co/JMGC2b2gQx pic.twitter.com/g8Q8REyzdM
McCutchen appeared for the Phillies in 260 games from 2019 to 2021 with a .787 OPS. He was beloved in Philadelphia during his time in town, thanks in large part to his leadership. He played most of his 18-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but also made other stops along the way. After last season, the 39-year-old seemed destined for retirement after another stop in Pittsburgh, but surprisingly signed a minor league deal and had his contract purchased by the Rangers on March 24, just in time for the opener. Now he gets to enjoy putting on a show against his old club seven years after he signed that deal to come to Philadelphia.
The moment was very innocent and good-hearted, but was a microcosm of how the series went with McCutchen at the plate. He finished the three games 4-for-9 with a home run, two doubles, and three RBI. He played a massive role in the Rangers' 13 combined runs over the last two games at Citizens Bank Park, extending the Phils' defecit in extras on Saturday before delivering the body blow in the finale.
Now, the Phillies can move on from him and turn the page to the Nationals, facing the back end of their rotation while trying to get that first series win of the season.