It was knit-hat, scarf, and hot-chocolate weather last night at Citizens Bank Park.

It was the kind of chilled fall evening in which you probably shouldn't stick your hands out to snag a blistering batting-practice home run while standing along the left-field railing.

But that's why folks were out there three hours before last night's Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. They were hoping Carlos Ruiz would make like Carlos Ruiz and smack one their way.

Moreover, if you're a guy standing in front of the flower pots, you've already made a commitment to everyone that you're going after anything flying in your direction.

Last night, Phillies fans - the men, anyway - didn't disappoint. Batting-practice home runs were thudding off stone-cold hands. And the men were smiling and laughing afterward, unwilling to acknowledge the sting.

Even in the stands, pride.

Philly style

In sun-soaked Los Angeles for the national anthem, the Dodgers paraded out Billy Ray Cyrus and the boy band Backstreet Boys, although still calling the Backstreet Boys a boy band is a little like calling Joe Torre a young man.

Last night, for their national anthem, the Phillies welcomed about a hundred young men from the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale.

It's not better or worse (read: It's better here; it's purer and grittier), it's just different.

Better attraction

Hundreds of Phillies fans stood in front of a makeshift rock stage outside the first-base entrance. The band, clad in Phillies gear, was Mr. Greengenes.

Although people were standing in front of the stage, that appeared to be little more than a coincidence, as most were gripping their beers, chatting.

Mr. Greengenes repeatedly encouraged the crowd to "get your hands up, Phillies fans!"

But the fans knew that wasn't the show, paying about as much attention to the group as they would the Kansas City Royals.

The Eagles

Eagles fans in Phillies gear were packed into McFadden's, watching the end of the Birds' 13-9 loss to the Oakland Raiders, who looked like a Division I-AA squad last week against the New York Giants.

With each failed Eagles play, folks were turning away from the TV as if turning their backs on the screen would remove the play from their memories.

A security guard walked up to the McFadden's entrance and seemed prepared to ask a colleague about the score.

"Just keep moving," the guy said. "You don't even want to know about it. . . . Trust me."

HK

The entrances to the ballpark looked like funnels of red. Members of the Phillies' "Giveaway Staff" delivered white towels and were usually met with some form of "Go, Phillies," or "Phillies gonna win tonight?"

A pair of young men walked in with dyed-red mohawks. Soon after came another mohawk, undyed, but this one with the initials HK shaved into the right side.

Harry Kalas.

Super clever

Up in Section 237, Phillies fans ended the announcement of each Dodger with the word sucks.

It would go something like this:

Announcer: "Starting at second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ronnie Belliard . . ."

Fans: "Sucks!"

Announcer: "Starting in right field for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Andre Ethier . . ."

Fans: "Sucks!"

Announcer: "Starting in left field for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Manny Ramirez . . ."

But the fans were too busy booing to yell, "Sucks!"

Just a little off

Former Phillies catcher Darren Daulton threw out the ceremonial first pitch last night.

Those inside the Bank offered Daulton solid clapping, although you could see folks looking at each other sideways as if to say, "What's up with this dude, anyway?"

After a quick Google search, here's the fourth line in Daulton's Wikipedia biography: "In more recent years, he has gained notoriety for his unconventional theories regarding human existence and time travel."

Perhaps Phillies fans were hoping Chase Utley's throws weren't as off as Daulton's post-playing endeavors.

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Contact staff writer Kate Fagan at 856-779-3844 or kfagan@phillynews.com.

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