Nine-month-old Chase was more into the French fries than the game last night at Coca-Cola Park. Guess what number's on the back of his shirt."See you in October." That, according to Yankee color analyst Suzyn Waldman, is what Jimmy Rollins quipped to one of the Yankee players as he was leaving the field after today's thrilling 11th-inning win in the Bronx. If that were to come about, it would be a heck of a World Series. These three games were intense, compelling baseball, with a definite play-off edge to them.
Today the Phillies went into the 9th with a 3-2 lead and once again Brad Lidge blew it. Glass half-full: Lidge blew the save but this time held on to keep it a tie. Glass totally drained: It's his knee or his head or 'baseball'. Whatever it is, it's been brutal.
With the game tied 3-3, Clay Condrey came in for the 10th to face the top of the Yankee line-up and gave up singles to Jeter and Damon. He then got Texeira to ground into a double-play. With Jeter on 3rd, he gave Rodriguez an intentional pass, then got Pena to fly out to end the inning. With two outs and Utley on at 2nd, via a walk and a stolen base, Carlos Ruiz fouled off several balls before lacing a double down the third base line to give the Phils a 4-3 lead. Condrey, on for the 11th, set the bottom of the Yankee line-up down 1-2-3.
Ruiz starred today at the plate and behind it, making several key defensive plays. He and Clay Condrey no doubt made Brad Lidge feel a lot better. Thanks to C and C, the Phillies finished the road trip 8-2.
Despite the absurd way that balls fly out of Yankee Stadium--Mark Texeira hit a sole homer today on a pitch that absolutely shattered his bat--, pitching was paramount in the series. All of the match-ups were pretty even. Friday night Brett Myers outpitched A. J. Burnett. On Saturday it was the young lefty J.A. Happ outdueling old lefty Andy Pettitte. Today it was ace vs. ace, with Hamels giving up two runs and Sabathia, three. No Phillie starter issued a walk.
See you in October....
