The Phils continued their series with the Marlins tonight. Cole Hamels got the start and delivered yet another subpar performance, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits in just 5 and 1/3rd innings. Meanwhile, Ryan Howard's bat finally woke up again with 4 hits and a run scored on the night, but unfortunately his teammates didn't give him much help. Chase Utley and Jayson Werth both went hitless and Howard had 3 of Phils only 5 hits after the 3rd inning. Still early on after allowing a leadoff homerun to Chris Coghlan it looked like Cole was going to cruise the rest of the way. At the same time the Phils came up with a couple of runs in the 2nd inning on an infield single and a fielder's choice for a 2-1 lead. Even after Cole got into a jam in the top of 3rd inning and allowed Florida to tie it at 2, it stilled seemed that he would be okay, as an error by Nick Johnson allowed the Phils to go back ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the inning. Then Cody Ross slammed a 2 run homer in the 6th to put the fish ahead 4-3 and that was it for Hamels and the Phils who couldn't take advantage of their opportunities the rest of the way. Both in the 7th and 8th innings the Phils had a runner on 2nd with less than 2 outs, and both times they failed to get him in. Finally in the 9th inning after Florida had pushed it to 6-3, Shane Victorino tripled and scored on a fielder's choice. It was too little too late though for the Phils. Ryan Howard did get aboard with an infield single to bring the tying run to the plate, but both Werth and Raul Ibanez flied out to end it. Utley is now just 6 for his last 32, Jayson Werth is now hitless in his last 3 games and the whole team is struggling right now to hit with runners in scoring position. I just can't understand it. There just seems to be some sort of mental block for the guys right now when they step up to the plate with a chance to knock in runs, kind of like last year in the world series. Hopefully they're just getting that out of the way now so they'll be hot if they make it into the world series this time around. Seriously though this can't go on too much longer and or they're going to make it very difficult for themselves to clinch the division. Anyway so the Phils drop to 61-47 now and just 5 games up in the NL East.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
EAGLES NEWS
There's more bad news from Eagles training camp today. 5th round pick Cornelius Ingram, who had missed most of his senior season at Florida last year with a torn ACL, has apparently torn the ACL again and could be done for the season. So the Eagles are now pretty thin at tight end behind starter Brent Celek. The veteran Matt Schobel, although not used much last season, should be an able backup, but after Schobel there's nothing but questions with undrafted rookies Eugene Bright and Rob Myers battling it out for 3rd string tight end. On the other hand the Eagles still have a wealth of depth at WR, with Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, Brandon Gibson, and yes even Reggie Brown is still on the Birds roster. So perhaps that depth will compensate for the lack there of at tight end.
Friday, August 07, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils welcomed the Florida Marlins to the bank tonight to begin a weekend series on an especially emotionally night as Harry Kalas was inducted into the Phillies wall of fame. It was really a fitting ceremony for the now silenced voice of the Phillies, complete with speeches by Micheal Jack himself, Todd Kalas, and a video tribute with some of Harry's most memorable calls. You can still see it I think on Phillies.com(Just click on the link to left that says Phillies and you'll go right to Phillies.com). Anyway it seems the emotion got to the Phils or rather took it out of them. They just came out flat in the beginning of the game and weren't quite able to pick it up in time for the win. Joe Blanton got the start and pitched well, but a made a few mistakes early in the game and as a result wound up allowing 3 runs on 8 hits in 6 and 2/3rd's innings, with 2 of the runs coming on solo homers by Nick Johnson and Cody Ross. It looked like Florida would make it 4-0 in the top of the 7th but Ben Francisco(playing because Shane Victorino sat out with a sore hip), gunned down Chris Coghlan at the plate off a single by Hanley Ramirez to keep it at 3-0. Then in the bottom of the 7th Francisco lined a 2 run homer just over the fence in left to cut it to 3-2. Next the Phils put 2 on with one out in the bottom of the 8th but both Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez failed to get the runs in. Finally in the bottom of the 9th the Phils went down in order with Matt Stairs grounding out to end it. If the Phils hadn't started out their last series just like this I might be concerned right now, but there is just no reason to be. I am still confident the Phils can fry some fish the rest of the weekend and bury Florida in the standings. The lineup just has to refocus again like it did against Colorado.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils completed their series with the Rockies this afternoon. Cliff Lee got the start, his first in front of the home crowd, and once again he was electric. He wasn't quite as sharp allowing a run in the 1st inning and allowing the lead off man to get on base 4 times, but ultimately he got the job done allowing just 1 run on 6 hits through 7 innings. Meanwhile, Jimmy Rollins stayed hot with a single, double, and triple and 2 runs scored to spark the Phils lineup. Chase Utley got him in the 1st time around with a sac fly in the bottom of the 1st. "The Flyin Hawaiian", Shane Victorino knocked in him the 2nd time around in the bottom of the 5th on a failed fielder's choice, as Troy Tulowitzki couldn't throw Victorino out on a slow rolling groundball. Last but certainly not least, Paul Bako, yes Bako, hit a solo homer earlier in that 5th inning. Put it all together with a shaky 8th inning by Ryan Madson, and a solid save by Brad Lidge in the 9th and you've got a 3-1 win for the Phils. Considering that it's usually pretty rare that a team loses the 1st game of a series as badly as the Phils did and then goes on to win that series against a pretty good team, I have to say I am pretty impressed with their resiliency at this point. I am also very impressed with Lee so far. He's just rock solid and very motivated at this point to help the Phils win, considering he doesn't have a ring like most of his teammates. Honestly I would be surprised at this point he loses at all between now and the end of the season. Anyway so the Phils move to 61-45 overall now and 7 games up in the NL East over the floundering Marlins, who will come to town tomorrow for the weekend.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils continued their series with the Rockies tonight and the results were much better. J.A Happ got the start and tossed a gem, allowing just 4 hits while striking out 10 in a complete game win. Meanwhile, Jimmy Rollins hit a 2 run homer, Pedro Feliz hit a solo shot, Ryan Howard slapped an RBI single, and Jayson Werth slammed a 3 run homer to power the Phils to a 7-0 win. All 7 runs came off Rockie's starter Jorge De La Rosa on 10 hits, as the Phils clobbered Colorado with a true team effort. In fact each member of the starting lineup had at least one hit on the night, including Happ himself who doubled in the top of the 9th, to the delight of the crowd. Considering the entire team struggled last night and all last weekend, although it was likely just fatigue then, it was good to see everyone get a hit tonight. It is always a good indicator when a team can break right out of slump like this. The Phils literally went from laughingstocks to Titans all in the space of one night, proof that no matter how grim things get, the belief they have in themselves always remains. The truth is that in baseball the greatness of a team cannot truly be measured by what it does during a winning streak, but rather must be measured by what it does when times are most grim. For the Phillies it seems for every lull they fall into and ever loss they suffer, there is always greatness waiting just around corner. With the win the Phils move to 60-45 overall and are now back to 6 games up in the NL East.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils returned to the Bank tonight to begin a 3 game series with the Colorado Rockies. Coming in the Rockies were red hot, while the Phils were struggling to find energy so it should come as no surprise that the Rockies handed the Phils their 3rd straight loss tonight. Jamie Moyer got the start and was decent but he got no run support and allowed a few too many walks, in giving up 6 runs on 6 hits while pitching into the 6th inning. In reality he only gave up the 1st 4 runs, while the other 2 were charged to him becuase he let the guys who scored them get on base. Ultimately, when Moyer left the game it was only 4-2 Rockies, after a 2 run homers by Jimmy Rollins and Garret Atkins and a single by Ryan SpillBorghs and a bases loaded walk to Chris Iannetta. Rodrigo Lopez is really to blame for the loss I think, as he came out of the bullpen in place of Moyer in the 6th inning and allowed Colorado to score 4 more runs on a plethora of doubles and single by the pitcher Jason Hammell, pretty much putting the game out of reach at 8-2. The Phils tried to mount a comeback scoring a run in the bottom of the 6th on a sac fly, but that would be the only run they would get the rest of the way in an 8-3 loss. I am not sure what happened to Phils bats tonight. They didn't look as tired tonight, they just really had bad at bats. Even Chase Utley went 0 for 3. All I can think is that the pitcher Hammell really has their number and in fact the only other time he faced the Phils he went 6 scoreless, which is actually better than tonight. Oh well better luck next time I guess. So anyway the Phils drop to 59-45 overall and now 5 games up in the NL East.
EAGLES NEWS
There is bad news from Eagles training camp. Although Andy Reid wouldn't confirm it, Stewart Bradley, the Eagles starting middle linebacker tore the ACL in one of his knees a couple days ago and could be done for this season. This is a huge blow for the Birds in that he was really the brains of the defense and perhaps it's heart and soul. Admittedly though he did struggle a bit in pass coverage at times, but he did just about everything else right. On other hand the Eagles do have 2 capable backups in 2nd year man Joe Mays whom the coaches love and the veteran, well veteran for this young defense, Omar Gaither who was the starting middle linebacker two seasons ago before Bradley supplanted him. For right now the job is Mays' to lose, as he is currently the one practicing with the first team defense, but in reality it's anyone's guess as to who will ultimately emerge as the starter. There is even a possibility the Eagles might just use both of them, with Mays playing in the run defense and Gaither subbing in for Nickel defenses. Hopefully one way or another they'll be able to compensate for the loss of Bradley.
Monday, August 03, 2009
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.
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.
EAGLES NEWS
The Eagles and 1st round pick Jeremy Maclin have come to terms on a 5 year $14.6 million deal. Hopefully the 13 training camp practices that Maclin has missed won't affect his development too much. If nothing else he should still be able to a dangerous kick and punt returner, but the time he as missed could limit his ability to get on the field at all as a receiver, considering the Birds are already pretty deep at WR, with guys like Jason Avant, Desean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Hank Baskett, and others who didn't miss any camp.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
PHILLIES NEWS
The Phils finished their series with the Giants this afternoon looking to at least earn a split in the series. Despite resting a few players they almost did, but Cole Hamels just couldn't close it out. After a triple by ex-Phil Aaron Rowand gave the Giants a 1 -0 lead in 2nd inning, Hamels seemed to bare down and the Phils rallied for 2 runs in 4th inning on a solo homer by Jimmy Rollins and an single and an error by Jayson Werth, and 1 run in the 5th inning on a single by Carlos Ruiz to take a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the 5th inning. It was there that everything fell apart for Hamels. He seemed to be cruising after 2 quick outs and the pitcher Barry Zito due up but then a funny thing happened. Instead of producing an out, Zito blooped a single to keep the inning alive and perhaps Cole started to think too much or maybe he started pressing, whatever the reason, he wasn't right after that. Eugenio Velez followed with a single and then Freddy Sanchez broke the Phils hearts with a game tying double. Hamels was even worse in the 6th inning, first allowing Randy Wynn to single in a run and then loading the bases before Chan Ho Park came in to try to bail him out. Park almost did but with 1 out his payoff pitch to Velez was just a bit too high, and Velez slapped it for a game-breaking 2 run single to put the exhausted the Phils away for good 7-3. There's not much to say about this game. It was just yet another almost game for Cole this season. When the experts said he might not quite as strong this season, because last year he threw over 200 innings for the first time, I didn't believe them. I think I am starting to now, but you never know maybe Cliff Lee, who has thrown 200+ innings a few times, will know something that will get Cole back on track. Anyway so the Phils drop to 59-44 overall and now 5 games up in the NL East.
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