In rallying from 2 runs down with 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning in Colorado, the Phillies finally got revenge for the sweep the Rockies laid on the Phillies in 2007.
The Phillies are heading back to the National League Championship Series for the second straight year against the Los Angeles Dodgers. These two teams have met 4 times previously in the NLCS, with each taking two, the Phillies taking the last two.
Cliff Lee pitched 7 and 1/3 innings, giving up 5 hits and 3 runs. He pitched well enough to keep the Phillies in the game while their offense was slumbering. He left some runners on base in the 7th, who scored with Ryan Madson on the mound, but overall pitched just well enough.
Of course, the most exciting time of the game (besides Lidge’s inning) was when Ryan Howard doubled with 2 outs in the 9th to bring home Shane Victorino and Chase Utley. Jayson Werth followed with a bloop single to score RyHo and take the lead. I’ve never heard a stadium go quiet as fast as Coors Field did after Werth’s hit.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the 9th. Charlie Manuel brought in Scott Eyre to start the inning, who got 2 outs, but gave up 2 hits as well. Brad Lidge came in to close out the game, and everyone in Philly started to sweat a bit. Lidge however got Troy Tulowitzki to swing at strike three and record the final out for the second game in a row.
The Phillies head home tonight before going back across the country later this week to face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now I’m kicking myself for not picking up a $2 “Beat LA” Forman Mills special at the end of last season.
As the Phillies are doing this for Harry Kalas, I’ll end with HK doing what he was known for: singing High Hopes.
