Get me to the plate, boys. That, said Raul Ibanez, is what Ryan Howard was telling his mates in the dugout in the top of the 9th last night. With two on and the Phillies down to their last strike, Howard laced a double to deep right. Victorino flew in from 2nd, with Utley hard on his heels to tie the game at four. Next up: Jayson Werth, who, again down to the last strike, singled hard to right to score Howard and put the Phils up 5-4. Talk about being in the moment. And it all took place minutes after the Rockies had broken through in the 8th for the lead. Lefty Scott Eyre, who was knocked out of Sunday night's when he sprained his ankle, was back on the mound for the 9th. (Big cheers for Eyre, who is coming up big in the absence of J.C. Romero.) He got two outs but allowed two to reach. With Troy Tulowitzki due up for the Rocks, Charlie Manuel went to his closer, Brad Lidge, who got Tulowitzki swinging. The Phillies won 5-4 and advanced to another NLCS with the Dodgers.
It was an amazing game and one that was finally played at a reasonable time of day. Cliff Lee started against Ubaldo Jimenez. Both were great. Jimenez gave up a home run to Victorino in the 1st, then another solo to Werth in the 6th. Lee allowed just one run in seven innings. In the 8th the Rockies capitalized on an incredible move by base runner Dexter Fowler, who vaulted over Chase Utley, fielding a ball hit by Todd Helton. Utley tossed the ball to Rollins, who was blocked by Fowler and unable to make the catch. By the end of the inning, the Rockies scored three times to take a 4-2 lead, setting the stage for the Phillies' magical comeback in the 9th.
The game had lots of moments as well. Ben Francisco, in for defensive purposes in the 8th, made a superb catch in left. Carlos Gonzalez, aka Car-Go, made a great throw from right to third, which almost got the advancing Victorino. Car-Go, a terrific young player, was outstanding; he led the Rocks with 10 hits in the series. In the 9th Victorino almost blew the game when he missed third on his dash home. Luckily, he did a quick U-turn, tagged up, and sped home just in front of Utley.
Last, there was Brad Lidge, again getting a one-run save. The 'powderkeg' closer came out of the NLDS with an 0.00 ERA, while others--Franklin, Papelbon, Nathan, and Street--,all of whom had sterling years, blew up. Bye-by, Cardinals, Red Sox, Twins, and Rockies. One night after the Angels, trailing by two in the 9th and down to their last strike, pulled off an amazing three-run comeback win in Boston, the Phillies did the same in Denver. Baseball is such an incredible game.
Phillies, Phillies, Phillies!
