The bottom of the order continues to come up big for the Phillies, as Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs each had two-run homeruns in the eighth inning to give the Phils a three games to one lead in the National League Conference Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite minimal production from Jimmy Rollins, Jason Werth, Ryan Howard, and Pat Burrell (a combined four for 16 in Monday night’s game), the bottom of the order has provided the offensive burst the Phillies have needed.
For Victorino, it was his second big hit of the playoffs, the first coming in the form of a grand slam against Brewers’ ace CC Sabathia in the NLDS. For Stairs, however, it was the highlight of his career.
“My whole career, even back in my early days . . . my thing was to try to hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Stairs said.
He did just that. After Victorino had popped what looked like a bloop single just over the right field …
Jamie Moyer, the Phillies’ most consistent pitcher during the regular season, struggled for the second time in as many playoff chances Sunday, lasting just 1 1/3 innings while giving up six runs on six hits. Clay Condrey relieved Moyer in the second, and the Phillies’ bullpen did what it has done all season, shut the other team down, allowing only one run the rest of the game. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching was up to the task, allowing just two Phillies’ runs the entire game.
Things started off poorly from the very beginning, as Moyer allowed two consecutive singles to Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier. Manny Ramirez followed it up with a double, scoring Furcal. Moyer would then hit Dodgers’ catcher Russell Martin, which would spark some serious fireworks in the innings to come. Moyer then struck out Nomar Garciaparra looking, possibly indicating that he had settled down. It was not to be.
Casey Blake singled to right, scoring Ehtier and keeping the bases loaded. After …
Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel received word before Friday night’s Game 2 that his mother, 87-year old June Manuel, had passed away that morning from a heart attack.
After the game, Phillies’ centerfielder Shane Victorino learned that his 82-year old grandmother had passed away.
There was a bittersweet mood in the clubhouse after Friday night’s game. The team was jubilent over its 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, but melancholy over the loss felt by two of its most important members.
Both Manuel and Victorino believe that their respective family members would not want them mourning their passing and want them to stay at work and continue doing everything they can to win a World Series.
The bond between Manuel and his mother is an amazing story, one that I can not do justice to. For more, I urge you to check out Inquirer columnist Bill Lyons’ column from Friday.
Our hearts go out to the families of Charlie Manuel and Shane Victorino.
After Brett Myers’ Game 2 victory against CC Sabathia and the Milwaukee Brewers in last week’s NLDS, all the media could ask him about was his two crucial at bats in which he forced the Brewers’ ace to throw 19 pitches. One of those at bats resulted in a crucial walk that would lead to the game winning grand slam by Shane Victorino.
Myers did little to give the media good reason not to continue talking about his offensive prowess in Friday’s 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS Game 2 in Philadelphia. Myers was a perfect three for three with two runs and three RBIs.
“I’m not a very good hitter,” said Myers, who became the first pitcher to get three hits in an NLCS game. “I just get lucky occasionally. I’m baffled by it. I would’ve rather pitched better.”
While Myers did not pitch great by any means, he pitched better than the box score indicates. Myers went just five innings, giving up …
After struggling throughout the entire four game NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, second baseman Chase Utley came out of the gate with a fury in Thursday night’s NLCS opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Well, okay, maybe a fury is overdoing it a little, as he only had two hits, one for a single. But the quiet star hit the biggest hit of his career, a game tying two run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning that went into the left field seats, as well as into Phillies history. It was the first of what we all hope is a long line of post season homeruns and big hits for Utley.
“It’s all about trying to put some hits together,” Utley said last night. “We had a runner in scoring position and I was just trying to get him over. No matter what, I was trying to get him to third base. I squared up a sinker and it went over the fence. For …
After a season full of highs and lows, victories and defeat, triumphs and struggles, the Philadelphia Phillies have made it to the National League Championship Series. This is the first time the Phillies have made it to the NLCS since the fabled 1993 team that beat the Atlanta Braves to make it to the World Series. Even if the Phillies make it to the World Series this year, it is unlikely they will be as beloved as that 1993 team, made up of guys like John Kruk, Darren Daulton, Lenny Dykstra, Curt Schilling, Larry Anderson, and Wild Thing Mitch Williams. This team is too introverted, too modern day. That 1993 team could never exist in today’s culture of free agency, big paydays, player first style of baseball, and that’s not this team’s fault, it’s just the way the game is today.
If the Phillies win the World Series, however, they will be a beloved group of players no matter what we really think of them. But before we even start talking about the World Series, they …
The bat of Pat Burrell finally came alive Sunday to move the Philadelphia Phillies into the National League Conference Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who swept the Chicago Cubs in three games. The Phillies beat the Milwaukee Brewers three games to one. After going hittless in the previous three games of the series, Burrell connected for two separate homeruns in Sunday’s series clincher, the first coming in the top of the third. After Shane Victorino doubled to left and Ryan Howard was inentionally walked, Burrell came to the plate and smoked one into the left field seats, his second hit of the game. That put the Phillies up 4-0, and that was more than enough for starter Joe Blanton.
In his first ever playoff start, Blanton went six strong innings, giving up just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts. Blanton did not give up a run until the seventh inning on a lead off homerun to Prince Fielder, his first hit of the …
The Phillies overcame a lot of odds Thursday to move one game closer to making their first NLCS since 1993. Against CC Sabathia, arguably the best pitcher in the majors during the second half of the 2008 season, the Phillies scored five runs on six hits and ran the big guy off in just 3 2/3 innings.
After just getting four hits in Game 1, the Phillies got nine hits off five different Brewers pitchers, including loading the bases three times. The Phillies scored early and hard, getting all five runs in the second inning. After Jason Werth stretched what would be his first of two should-a-been-single doubles, Pedro Feliz hit a double of his own, scoring Werth. Catcher Carlos Ruiz then grounded out to first, advancing Feliz to third.
Then came up pitcher Brett Myers, who drew a nine-pitch walk that had the crowd as loud as any other point in the game. If there were doubts about Myers before yesterday’s game, those doubts …
If the Phillies hope to beat the Milwaukee Brewers and go deep in this year’s playoffs, then the offense needs to step it up and play better than they did in Game 1.
Against Yovani Gallardo, a 22-year old righty with just four games under his belt this season, the Phillies managed just four hits and all three of their runs came as a result of a Mike Cameron defensive miscue in the third inning.
The top of the lineup (Jimmy Rollins and Jason Werth) went a combined one for eight with four strikeouts. As goes J-Roll, so go the Phillies. He is the spark that sets this offense’s flame and if they hope to have any success against Game 2 starter CC Sabathia then he needs to get on base and make things happen. With Rollins and Werth on the basepaths, it sets the table for Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and even injured Pat Burrell. Despite struggling the last month or two of the season and …
The Philadelphia Phillies won their first playoff game in 15 years on Wednesday, defeating Yovani Gallardo and the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1.
Phils’ ace Cole Hamels was significantly more prepared for this Game 1 outing than he was last year against the Colorado Rockies.
“Because of last year, I learned what it really takes in trying to be - kind of mellow out, not have the sort of excitement where you can’t really control everything,” Hamels said. “Just going out there and relaxing and just being able to pitch and throw strikes.”
It just goes to show you, experience really does matter in the playoffs. Hamels threw eight shutout innings against the Brewers, striking out nine and allowing just two hits.
The Phillies scored their three runs in the third inning, all stemming from a defensive miscue by Milwaukee veteran outfielder Mike Cameron. With two men on, Chase Utley ripped a ball into center that just slipped out of Cameron’s glove. Gallardo would go on to load the bases and …
With Game 1 less than 24 hours away, word is the roster is set. Since the Phillies have until 10:00 am tomorrow to submit this final roster, it’s not official, but here’s how it’s shaping up:
Starting Pitchers
Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton
No real surprises here. Kyle Kendrick, who’s spent a majority of the season in the rotation is in Clearwater at the Florida Instructional League. Hamels, Myers, & Moyer will be starting the first three games. The use of Blanton really depends on where the series is at on Friday when they travel to Milwaukee.
Relief Pitchers
Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre, J.A. Happ
The biggest surprise here is Happ making the cut. He’s the third lefty in the bullpen, but when the Brewers biggest bat, Prince Fielder, is a lefty, so having an abundance of southpaws in the bullpen is never a bad thing. Given that fact he’s a starter, Happ gives the Phillies a long …
Left fielder Pat Burrell was seen whining this afternoon while taking batting practice in what has been described as lower back discomfort. Burrell felt something in his back during a swing, and promptly headed to the dugout.
This is terrible news for the Phillies who are counting on Burrell’s clutch bat in the playoffs.
Burrell’s status for tomorrow’s Game One of the National League Division Series is up in the air. He will be re-evaluated prior to Charlie Manuel filling out his lineup card, and if he can go, he’ll be in left field. Should Burrell be unable to go, expect Matt Stairs or Geoff Jenkins to take his place.
