PHILLIES NEWS

With their season on the line again the Phils turned Roy Oswalt to extend it for at least another game. Oswalt did his job, allowing just 2 runs on 9 hits, while striking out 5. The Giants had multiple opportunities to put up crooked against Oswalt but he held firm and found his way out of trouble again and again. By all rights Oswalt's performance should have been enough to force a game 7, but it wasn't. The Phils had at least twice as many opportunities as the Giants to produce runs, most of which came against the San Francisco bullpen, as Jonathan Sanchez failed to get through the 3rd inning, and they just didn't come through.

Early on the Phils took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, on a double by Chase Utley, and a sac fly by Jayson Werth. They also had 2 on with 2 out for Raul Ibanez and could have really broken the game open but Ibanez popped up to end the inning. In the 5th Jimmy Rollins leadoff with a double and Ryan Howard looked to have an RBI double but Rollins was held at 3rd. After Werth was walked to load the bases, Shane Victorino grounded out to end the inning, blowing another opportunity. In the 6th Raul Ibanez lead off with a double and moved to 3rd on a bunt by Carlos Ruiz, but he was stranded when Ben Francisco struck out looking, and Jimmy Rollins flied out.

In the 8th, Victorino and Ibanez collected back to back singled to put 2 on with 1 out for Ruiz. Ruiz crushed a line drive the other way, but right at Aubrey Huff who snared it and threw to 2nd to double off Victorino and end another threat. Finally in the 9th, the Phils put 2 on with 2 out for Ryan Howard who went down looking at strike 3, on a very questionable pitch. It was a borderline pitch at best that I've seen go both ways. In this case the umpire decided to give it to Brian Wilson to clinch the NL title for the Giants. So there will be no 3rd straight NL title for the Phils. It was still a good season for them and a lot of fun to watch.

Considering all of the injuries they had to overcome, I am still proud of them for making it this far. Considering they could make it all the way to game 6 of the NLCS without ever being at 100%, you can just imagine how good they could have been if they had been able to stay healthy all season. You have to like their chances to repeat as NL East champions, especially since Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt will all be back next season for a full season, not just the last few months. Where they go beyond that will be determined by what they do with the Jayson Werth free agency situation. If they can figure out a way to keep him or they can replace with him with another power right handed bat they will contend for a world title again. Otherwise they might have trouble getting deep in the playoffs again.