PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils are off today finally, so it is time at last to reveal our top 5 most dramatic Phils win. We have already traversed 20 pulse pounding, nail-biting, victories, but if you think they were dramatic you ain't seen nothing yet.

5. Shot heard round Philadelphia October 1, 1950 Phillies 4 - Brooklyn Dodgers 1
Ahead by 5 games with 6 to play the Whiz Kids seem to have wrapped up their 2nd NL Pennant and first in 35 years, but their pitching has worn thin with #2 starter Curt Simmons forced to enter military service and #s 3 and 4 nursing injuries. So thin is the pitching that closer Jim Konstanty begins starting games down the stretch. Still with the big lead they believe they can coast to the pennant. Then Leo Durocher's New York Giants defeat the Phils in back to back double headers at the Polo grounds and just like that the lead is down to 2 with a season ending trip to Ebbets Field and a 2 game encounter with the 2nd place Dodgers looming. Brooklyn takes the first game 7-3 and now it's down to the final game of the season to decide the pennant. If Brookly can win on this day they'll force a one game playoff, but if the Phils can win the Pennant is theirs at last. Although he has started 4 of the last 9 games to keep his team afloat ace Robin Roberts, wills himself to take the mound one more time. For 5 innings he holds Brooklyn scoreless. Then in the top of the 6th two out singles by Dick Sisler, Del Ennis, and Willie Jones put the Phils ahead 1-0. The lead doesn't last as Pee Wee Reese get's a cheap homer in the bottom of the inning, hitting a ball off the screen above the fence in right field which gets stuck on the frame covering the fence, instead coming back into play. From there Roberts and Dodger ace Don Newcombe duel to a 1-1 tie heading into the 9th. Roberts walks Cal Abrams to start the inning. Then Reese singles to put 2 on and nobody out for the ever dangerous Duke Snider. Surely this will be it for Roberts, as manager Eddie Sawyer comes out to talk to him, but no he leaves Roberts in and almost pays for it. Snider slams a line drive to center which should score Abrams for the win, but Richie Ashburn charges, and with his "throw of the century"(that's the 20th century not this one) guns down Abrams at the plate to preserve the tie. Now Brooklyn has runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out for Jackie Robinson. Roberts intentionally walks Jackie, then gets Carl Furillo to foul out, leaving the bases loaded and 2 out for Gil Hodges. Hodges lifts a deep fly to right but Ennis is there to make the catch and incredibly its on to a 10th inning. Roberts himself leads off the top of the 10th with an infield single, and Eddie Waitkus follows with another single to put 2 on and nobody for Ashburn. Ashburn tries to bunt the runners over, but bunts too hard and Roberts is thrown out at 3rd. So its up to Dick Sisler to get the go ahead run home with 2 on and 1 out. He does even better. With the count 1 and 2 Sisler sends a fly ball deep to left field and gone for a 4-1 lead. Roberts then finishes a gutty complete game victory, retiring the side in the 10th, and its on to a date with Yankees in the world series.

4. The Comeback June 8, 1989 Phillies 15 - Pirates 11
We have already established that the 1989 season was a stinker and depressing as Michael Jack walked away from the game not even halfway through the season. It was also good for some memorable games like this one. On this night Pittsburgh waltz's into the Vet and storms to 10-0 lead before the first inning is even over. All told in the first inning Larry Mcwilliams and Steve Ontiveros combine to allow 10 runs and 9 hits, as the even the pitcher Bob Walk hits a 2 run single and some kid named Bonds hits a 3 run homer and scores 2 runs. So the game is just about over before it has even started. There is no way the Phils can comeback in this one is there? Somehow or another they convince themselves it isn't over yet and begin the long road back in the bottom of the inning where Von Hayes slugs a 2 run homer to cut the lead to 10-2. Hayes hits another bomb in the 3rd inning and its down to 10-4. Next weak switch hitting shortstop Steve Jeltz, batting lefthanded here, surprises everyone with another 2 run homer to cut it to 10-6. After Andy Van Slyke slaps an RBI double to push the lead back up to 11-6, Jeltz switches to the right side of the plate in the 6th and shocks everyone with a 3 run homer, making him the first Phillie to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game at the Vet, and cutting the lead to 11-9. A couple batters later Ricky Jordan singles in another run and the lead is just 1, 11-10. It stays that way until Jeff Robinson throws a wild pitch in the bottom of the 8th inning, allowing John Kruk to score the tying run. Next after Robinson intentionally walks Dickie Thon to load the bases, Darren Daulton lines a 2 run single to center field and now the Phils lead the stunned Pirates 13-11. The next batter , Curt Ford ,Triples for 2 more runs, but stupidly gets himself thrown out at home trying to stretch it into an inside the park homer. No matter, the 4 run lead proves more than enough for Steve Bedrosian to close out the win in the 9th inning, thus completing what remains the greatest comeback in Phils history.

3. The Thome game June 21, 2003 Phillies 6 - Red Sox 5
Over the course of baseball history there have been numerous times where one player has risen above and beyond the call of duty for his team with superhuman heroics to lead them to victory. There was the 4 homer game by Micheal Jack we mentioned earlier, the called shot by Babe Ruth, and the Sandberg game. This was one such performance by Jim Thome at the height of his popularity in his first season with the Phils. Thanks to two solo homers by Todd Walker in the 3rd and 6th innings and brilliant start by Pedro Martinez, Boston has the lead 2-1 through 7 and 1/2 innings. With 2 out in the bottom of the 8th, Thome stands in against Mike Timlin with one thing on his mind, hit one out and get this game tied. He does sending Timlin's 1-1 offering into the seats to tie the game at 2. Thanks to solid bullpen work the game stays tied all the way into the 12th inning. With one out in the top of the 12th Kevin Millar slaps a single right at Jason Micheals so it shouldn't amount to anything. Except Micheals totally misplays the ball as it rolls right under his glove and the all the way back to the fence, allowing Nomar Garciaparra to score from 1st for a 3-2 lead. Jose Mesa bares down from there and strikes out Jeremy Giambi and Jason Varitek to keep the score 3-2 heading into the bottom of the 12th. It doesn't look good though as Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco produce 2 quick outs to start the bottom of the 12th. Next up Jim Thome. Although with 2 out and nobody on they can simply walk him, Boston stupidly decides to try to pitch to Thome. It doesn't work. Thome works the count full, fouls off a pitch, crushes the next deep to the seats in left centerfield and fist pumps as he rounds the bases. So we're tied again at 3. Mesa can't keep it tied in the bottom of the inning as Walker doubles in one run and then Nomar scores Walker with his 6th hit of the day for a 5-3 Boston lead that seems safe at last. However, it is not to be for the Red Sox though on this day. In the bottom of the 13th with 1 on and 1 out David Bell doubles in one run to cut it to 5-4. Next the last man left on the bench for the Phils, Todd Pratt, steps up to the plate with a chance tie it up again with a single. He does better. He sends the 2nd pitch he sees from Rudy Seanez deep to center field and as Scott Graham exclaims over the radio, " Its gone! Its gone! He did it! Todd Pratt did it! Put this one in the win column for the Phightin Phils! They are going crazy here at the vet! I couldn't have said it better myself.

2. The Stairs to a title October 13, 2008 NLCS Game 4 Phillies 7 - Dodgers 5
It was 9 months ago but it still feels like it happened yesterday. In the NLCS for the first time in 15 years the Phils have the 2-1 series lead, but the Dodgers have the momentum with the win in game 3 and are looking to draw even. The game gets off to a running start with back to back singles by Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth and a double by Chase Utley to score 1 run. Ryan Howard follows with a hard groundout that allows Werth to score for a quick 2-0 lead. James Loney answers in the bottom of the inning, lining a 2 out RBI double to cut it to 2-1. Joe Blanton keeps it that way until the bottom of the 5th. There Manny Ramirez singles to score one run and Russell Martin hits a sharp ground ball to allow another run to score for a 3-2 lead. The Phils come right back to tie it at 3 in the top of the 6th on a wild pitch by Clayton Kershaw. In the bottom of the 6th Casey Blake leads off with a solo homer and a couple batters later Scott Eyre throws the ball away trying throw out Rafeal Furcal at first,allowing another run to score. With a 5-3 lead and runners on 2nd and 3rd and nobody out L.A has a golden opportunity to put the Phils away but they can not. Eyre gets Andre Ethier to line out to Ryan Howard. Then he intentionally walks Manny Ramirez to load the bases and set up for an inning ending double play. It works as Ryan Madson replaces Eyre and gets Russell Martin to line right to Chase Utley who makes an incredible dive to beat Furcal to the 2nd base bag and end the inning. Still, the situation seems hopeless as Utley strikes out to end the top of the 7th inning, leaving the Phils behind 5-3 heading into the 8th inning. This is exactly the kind of situation in which the Phils would not have succeeded in the past and would have watched their title hopes slip away. Not this time. Although Hong Chih Kuo has been dominating thus far Joe Torre stupidly takes him out after a cheap leadoff single by Ryan Howard. His replacement Cory Wade proceeds to serve a game tying 2 run homer to Shane Victorino, just over the fence in left field. A couple batters later with 2 out Carlos Ruiz singles and that's it for Wade. Now it's up to closer Jonathan Broxton to get out of the inning. Next up Matt Stairs. This is only Stairs' 2nd at bat of the postseason and he makes it count. As Joe Buck says "Stairs hits one deep into the night". "254 homeruns for Stairs in his career and that was biggest". J.C Romero and Brad Lidge combine to make the homer stand up and suddenly the Phils are a just win over the stunned Dodgers away from the world series.

1B. The Clincher October 12, 1980 NLCS game 5 Phillies 8 - Astros 7
Before last year most Phils fans would tell you this was most dramatic win in Phils history. After all the Phils and Astros had already gone through 3 straight extra inning games before this one and the Phils needed 10 innings in game 4 just to keep the series alive. Now it all comes down to this one night to decide who will represent the national league in the world series. The Phils are trying to avoid their 4th NLCS dissapointment in 5 years, but the odds are stacked against them. They're on road at the Astrodome and "the Express", Nolan Ryan will start for Houston. When Jose Cruz gives the Astros the lead right away with a double in the first inning, things look even more grim for the Phils. Then a 2 run single by Bob Boone gives the Phils the lead 2-1 in the top of the 2nd. From there Marty Bystrom hangs with Ryan and the keeps the Phils ahead into the 6th inning. There after an error by Greg Luzinski to start the inning Bystrom finally runs out of steam as a 1 out single by Alan Ashby ties the game at 2. Then in the 7th Larry Christenson falls apart, allowing an RBI single to Denny Walling, and throwing a wild pitch for another run. Finally Ron Reed replaces Christenson but he does no better allowing a triple to Art Howe and suddenly it is 5-2 Houston. With Ryan still going strong, hope for victory seems to be lost for the Phils. Luckily the pressure gets to Ryan on this night. In fact after 3 straight singles by Larry Bowa, Boone, and Greg Gross, to load the bases, and a walk to Pete Rose to force in a run, Ryan is done for the night. The Astro bullpen can't hold off the charging the Phils. Keith Moreland hits a sharp groundball off Joe Sambito to push another run across and then Ken Forsch replaces Sambito. Forsch is no better allowing a 2 out single to Del Unser and then a bases clearing triple to Manny Trillo to give the Phils a 7-5 lead. Houston doesn't go away though touching up Tug Mcgraw in the bottom of the inning for a couple of 2 out runs for a 7-7 tie. Neither team can score in the 9th and so again a 10th inning will be needed to decide an outcome. Finally in the top of the 10th a 2 out double by Garry Maddox scores Del Unser for an 8-7 lead. In the bottom of the inning Dick Ruthven who got the Phils through the 9th, comes out to finish a 2 inning save and after 2 quick outs, Enos Cabell slaps Ruthven's 3-2 offering deep to center. Maddox is there though and makes the catch for the final out. So the wait is over and at last after 30 years the Phils are back in the world series.


1A. Chooch Off October 25, 2008 World Series game 3 Phillies 5 - Rays 4
Okay so we're cheating here with 2 number 1's but really how do you decide between the two most important games in the Phils 2 championship seasons? Perhaps you can decide. Anyway getting back on track the Phils here are in the world series for the first time in 15 years and are looking to take the title for the first time in 28 years. They have split the first 2 games in the series but this is really the big one. If they lose this game they lose control of the series and now that the series is in Philly they don't want it to go back to Tampa. Thanks to rain storms the game doesn't even start until after midnight and although he's been sitting around through the rain and been beaten badly in his last 2 postseason starts Jamie Moyer gets the start. This time when it matters the most he comes through, allowing just 1 run through the 1st 6 innings. Meanwhile, Carlos Ruiz slams a solo homer in the bottom of the 2nd and Chase Utely and Ryan Howard combine for back to back homers to lead off the 6th inning. So the Phils ride a 4-1 lead into 7th inning and all signs point to victory. Then the umpire misses the call on a spectacular diving play by Moyer to get Carl Crawford at first and Tampa takes advantage. After a double by Dioner Navarro, Crawford goes on to score on a fielder's choice to cut it to 4-2. Then Navarro scores on another fielder's choice to cut it to 4-3 before Scott Eyre finally gets the Phils out of the inning. Things get worse in the top of the 8th as B.J Upton leads off with a single off Ryan Madson and then steals 2nd, steals 3rd, and scores as Carlos Ruiz throws the ball away trying to get Upton at 3rd. So just like that the game is tied up and the once assured win seems to have slipped away. Fortunately Madson gets through the rest of the 8th and J.C Romero keeps Tampa off the board in the 9th inning. Now the Phils get their chance to take the win in the bottom of the 9th. Eric Bruntlett leads off by getting hit by a pitch. Then Grant Balfour throws a wild pitch which bounces back to Navarro who throws the ball into center field, while attempting to get Bruntlett at 2nd. So Bruntlett moves to 3rd, putting the winning run 90 feet away. manager Joe Maddon now makes the decision to load the bases and deploy a 5 man infield to get some groundouts and get out of the inning. It doesn't work. The next batter is Ruiz. Nicknamed Chooch by his teammates reportedly due to his resemblance to Cheech Marin, the Cheech of the famous 70s and 80s comic duo, Cheech and Chong, he is looking to redeem himself from the error that put the Phils in this position in the first place. He hits a slow roller up the 3rd base line, just slow enough that Eva, er Evan Longoria can only throw it over Navarro's head as Bruntlett scores the winning run. Just like that the Phils have their first world series walkoff win and the now they and city believe the series will be theirs again at last.