Phillies Recap: World Series Game Three

2009 World Series

New York Yankees 8, Philadelphia Phillies 5

W - Andy Pettitte (1-0, 6.00), L - Cole Hamels (0-1, 10.38), S - Mariano Rivera (2)

The highly important game three of the 2009 World Series was a much more wide open affair between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees. After the Phillies jumped out to a quick three-run lead, the Yankees battled back against Cole Hamels and took control of the game. Andy Pettitte did not pitch especially well and had a high pitch count early, but once again, the Phillies did not have a sound approach at the plate, and handed the Yankees another victory. When all the scoring was done, the final was 8-5.

Game Summary: New York Yankees

Andy Pettitte had a very shaky start to his outing, throwing nearly 50 pitches in the first two innings. However, to his credit, he limited the damage and settled in nicely. Once he was handed a lead, he really locked down the Phillies' lineup, who helped him out by becoming less patient as the night moved on. After six innings, Pettitte had allowed four runs on five hits, with two solo homers mixed in. The Yankees' bullpen came in and tossed three innings of scoreless relief.

The Yankee offense really came alive in this game, with Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher leading the way. Both Yankee hitters had been struggling this World Series, entering this game. However, they jump started the offense, which at one point scored in five consecutive innings. The Phillies bullpen was exposed after Cole Hamels lasted less than five innings. On the night, the Yankees tallied eight runs on eight hits and took advantage of three walks as well.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

For Cole Hamels, this was not the start he envisioned. Despite allowing a two run homer to Alex Rodriguez in the fourth inning, Hamels cruised through four with the lead most of the way. In the fifth, the tables were turned and he did not survive the inning. The Phillies pieces together their bullpen from that point, but they were unable to keep the team close, as the Yankees continued to tack on runs late, which proved to be the difference in the game.

The Phillies offense spotted Hamels an early three run lead. However, after that outburst, it seemed as if their approach at the plate changed. The quality of at bats diminished and the Philly hitters got themselves out for most of the rest of the night. Jayson Werth provided the lone offensive spark, with two solo homers, but the rest of the team managed just four other hits in the game. Through three games now, the Phillies big hitters have not performed as needed, and the lineup collectively can be blamed for the 2-1 series hole they now find themselves in.

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Phillies Recap: World Series Game Two

2009 World Series
Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees

W - A.J. Burnett (1-0, 1.29), L - Pedro Martinez (0-1, 4.50), S - Mariano Rivera (1)

Game two of the World Series was another very close, low-scoring game. The Philadelphia Phillies, behind Pedro Martinez, took an early lead. After dueling for several innings with A.J. Burnett, the Yankees used the long ball to surge ahead in the game. In what turned into a late game battle of the bullpens, the Yankees were able to hold on to a small lead and pull out a win by a final score of 3-1. The win evened the series at one as the teams head back to Philadelphia for the next three games.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

Pedro Martinez started the game for the Phillies, with many questions unanswered about his abilities at his age. However, the veteran pitcher showed that he still has something left in the tank, as he kept the Yankees hitters off balance and off the scoreboard for most of the night. Martinez was hurt by a pair of solo homers, but only allowed six hits and a pair of walks overall. In six plus solid innings, the future Hall of Famer struck out eight Yankee hitters, but left the game trailing, having allowed three earned runs. The Phillies' pen did a decent job, but it was in vain.

On offense, the Phillies didn't stir much. They seemed somewhat patient with Burnett early in the game, working his pitch count. But the right-hander settled in and held the Phillies in check, after an early Matt Stairs RBI single. The Phillies managed only five hits and three walks through the game. Ryan Howard had an especially tough night, as he struck out four times, thanks to some extremely generous strike calls. In the eighth, the Phils put a pair of runners on before a double play ended the threat. The offense was to blame as they could not get anything substantial going against Yankee pitching.

Game Summary: New York Yankees

A.J. Burnett was a wildcard coming into the game, with the Yankees uncertain what he would bring to the table. However, after a somewhat shaky start, Burnett settled in a dominated the Phillies' lineup for seven innings. The big righty added nine strikeouts and allowed just four hits. He walked two, one intentional, and gave up just one earned run. Mariano Rivera was brought in for a six-out save. He struggled through the eighth inning, throwing over 20 pitches, before completing the game in the ninth.

The Yankees offense really didn't do much against Pedro Martinez on the night. However, two mistake pitches were hit out of the park to give the Yankees the lead. In the seventh inning, they tacked on an important insurance run, but were unable to get more runs across. On the night, they didn't perform especially well and were not all that patient, but grinded out just enough to provide the final margin for the game.

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Phillies Recap: World Series Game One

2009 World Series

Philadelphia Phillies 6, New York Yankees 1

W - Cliff Lee (1-0, 0.00), L - CC Sabathia (0-1, 2.57)

The first game of the World Series was a highly exciting affair between two ace lefties. Cliff Lee took the ball for the Philadelphia Phillies in opposition of CC Sabathia for the New York Yankees. The game started as a pitcher's duel, but in the end, a pair of Chase Utley homers set the tone behind Cliff Lee's complete game. Sabathia pitched very well, but he was outdone by his counterpart. The Phillies were able to tack on runs against the Yankees' bullpen to finish with a 6-1 win and take a 1-0 lead in the World Series.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

From a pitching perspective, the game summary for the Phillies started and ended with Cliff Lee. The veteran southpaw was once again dominant, as he kept the Yankees off balance all night. In what was a very close game for the first seven innings, Lee was lights out, striking out hitters in almost every inning and never really getting into a jam. On the night, Lee went the distance, throwing 122 pitches in a complete game effort. A late error robbed Lee of a shutout, but he struck out 10 Yankees hitters, without allowing a walk, and holding them to just six hits.

Offensively, the Phillies were led by Chase Utley, who crushed a pair of solo homers off of CC Sabathia. The Phillies also worked Sabathia well, though they weren't able to muster much off of him. However, late in the game when the Yankees' bullpen came in, the Phils tacked on runs very well. Raul Ibanez drove in a pair of runs on a two-out two-strike single in the eighth. In the ninth, they tacked on a couple more runs, which concluded their night with six runs, nine hits, and seven walks.

Game Summary: New York Yankees

The Yankees sent their big-money ace to the mound, in CC Sabathia. Early on, Sabathia was very strong, but was forced to throw a lot of pitches, which may have affected him. In the third and sixth innings, Sabathia surrendered solo homers to Chase Utley. Other than that, Sabathia pitched very well and only allowed four hits in seven innings, while walking three and fanning six. The Yankees' bullpen let them down tonight, allowing four earned runs over the final two innings that allowed the game to get out of reach.

On offense, the Yankees couldn't do anything. They managed only six hits all night and were not especially patient against Cliff Lee. In their defense, they had no choice as Lee peppered the zone with strikes. Derek Jeter had three hits, including a double, but the team never had a real chance to score until the ninth inning. An error helped the Yankees push across a lone, unearned run, well after the outcome of the game had been decided. Tonight was really more about Lee's greatness than any Yankees slumping.

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Phillies Recap: NLCS Game Five

National League Championship Series - Game Five

Philadelphia Phillies 10, Los Angeles Dodgers 4

W - Chad Durbin (1-0, 0.00), L - Vicente Padilla (1-1, 6.10)

Philadelphia Phillies Win National League Pennant

After an exciting National League Championship Series, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers four games to one. In tonight's clinching game, the Phillies bats came alive again, as they posted ten runs on the Dodgers. Cole Hamels was not sharp but their bullpen picked him up and the Dodgers had pitching issues from top to bottom on the night. With an LCS record-tying seven home runs in the game, the scoring came early and often. In the end, the Phillies came away with a 10-4 victory and advance to their second consecutive World Series.

Game Summary: Los Angeles Dodgers

Vicente Padilla was spotted a quick lead and promptly gave it right back to the Phillies. Padilla did not have the great command he demonstrated in game two of the series. As a result, he was pounded for six earned runs over three innings, including a pair of homers. The Dodger bullpen came in but was equally ineffective. Game one starter Clayton Kershaw came in and surrendered a homer and two earned runs which helped ice the game away. As a unit, the Dodgers' pitchers were not good all series.

On offense, the Dodgers pelted Cole Hamels with three home runs. However, part of their trouble in this game was the fact that all three long balls were solo shots. When the Dodgers had runners on base, they lacked the one big hit that would have moved them back in the game. Andre Ethier had a pair of hits, including a first inning homer to give the Dodgers a brief lead. After that, it was all down hill for their offense, as the Dodgers squandered prime scoring opportunities in the fifth and eighth innings.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

Cole Hamels did not have the strong start that the Phillies were looking for. Fortunately, they were able to out-hit their counterparts and get Hamels off of the hook. Hamels surrendered three homers and was not sharp at all, as his pitch count grew quickly through three innings. Hamels did not make it through the fifth inning, but the Phillies bullpen came in and shut down the Dodgers. The pen went 4.2 innings and allowed just one earned run. Chad Durbin recorded the win, and got Manny Ramirez out in a key situation in the fifth inning.

The Phillies' offense came to play in this clinching game, despite the heart of their order going hitless. Jayson Werth picked up the slack with a pair of homers and four RBI on the night. Shane Victorino added a two-run shot and the offense was really propelled by key extra-base hits. Patience at the plate led to three walks and three hit batters, and compensated for only eight Philadelphia hits. As a unit, however, the Phillies really put on an offensive show, and kept the game out of reach for the Dodgers.

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Phillies Recap: NLCS Game Four

National League Championship Series - Game Four
Philadelphia Phillies 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 4
W - Brad Lidge (1-0, 0.00), L - Jonathan Broxton (0-1, 6.00)

Game four of the National League Championship series was an exciting and close affair all night long. Joe Blanton started off very strong and then got shaky, while Randy Wolf did the opposite in his start. The Philadelphia Phillies took an early lead, but the Los Angeles Dodgers battled back and carried a late lead into the ninth inning. However, late inning heroics from Jimmy Rollins helped the Phillies defeat Jonathan Broxton and the Dodgers by a final of 5-4. The walk-off win has already become the Phillies' signature win this postseason. With the win, the Phillies take a commanding 3-1 series lead and are one game from reaching their second consecutive World Series.

Game Summary: Los Angeles Dodgers

Randy Wolf got off to a slow start as he allowed two hits and a pair of runs on a Ryan Howard home run in the first inning. However, after the Phillies took the early lead, Wolf was brilliant, shutting down their offense for almost five innings. In the sixth inning, working with a lead, Wolf allowed one more run, but departed the game after 5.1 innings with a lead in tact. The Dodgers' bullpen was sharp in relief of Wolf, keeping the Phillies hitless and preserving Wolf's lead. That was, all until the ninth inning. Jonathan Broxton, on for a four-out save, allowed a walk, hit batter, and game-winning double in the ninth inning to blow the save and take the loss.

The Dodger offense was sluggish out of the gate against Blanton, as he retired the first 10 batters in a row. However, they came alive, putting up a pair of runs to tie the game in the fourth inning, then scored in the next two innings to take a 4-2 lead. However, as the game wound down, they squandered several key scoring opportunities which could have iced the game away. James Loney had a pair of hits and an RBI, while Matt Kemp homered and scored a pair of runs.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

Joe Blanton had a great start to his night, as he was very efficient and retired the Dodgers in order for the first three innings. However, trouble came quickly in the fourth inning, as the Dodgers strung some hits together off of Blanton to tie the game. Blanton seemed to lose his command after that point, allowing a run to score in the next two innings. Blanton finished his night tossing six innings, while allowing three earned runs and four overall. The Phillies' bullpen came in and tossed three masterful innings of shut out ball, highlighted by Brad Lidge's pair of strike outs in the ninth which earned him the win.

The Phillies offense was once again all about Ryan Howard. Howard homered in the first inning for an early lead, which also set a new major league record for most consecutive postseason games with an RBI (in one season) at eight. However, after the homer, the Phillies' offense fell asleep and barely stirred over the next seven innings. They did tack on an important run in the sixth inning. But the real story came in the ninth inning, when they found themselves down to their last out with a pair of runners on. Jimmy Rollins lined a ball deep into the right field gap to plate a pair and win the ball game in dramatic fashion.

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Phillies Recap: NLCS Game Three

National League Championship Series - Game Three

Philadelphia Phillies 8, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

W - Cliff Lee (1-0, 0.00), L - Hiroki Kuroda (0-1, 40.50)

It was a cold night in Philadelphia for the third game of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the chill in the air didn't slow down the Philly bats, as they jumped all over Dodgers' starter Hiroki Kuroda early. Cliff Lee delivered yet another gem of a start for the Phillies and cruised through the game. By the time the Phils had finished scoring, they had wrapped up a big game three win by a final score of 8-0.

Game Summary: Los Angeles Dodgers

Hiroki Kuroda made the start for the Dodgers but he hardly finished it, as he was knocked around early and often. The Phillies offense rocked him for four first inning runs and tacked on another pair in the second inning. After just 1.1 innings, the Phillies had chased him from the game and forced the Dodgers to dip into their bullpen. Chad Billingsley, their former ace, came in for 3.1 innings of relief and allowed another couple of runs. It was an important game for the Dodgers' pitching situation, as they were forced to tax their bullpen.

On offense, the Dodgers did very little against Cliff Lee. Manny Ramirez has a couple of hits, but no Dodgers reached as far as second base before the seventh inning, when the game was well in hand. The Dodger order did work Cliff Lee's pitch count a bit, helping to ensure that Lee did not toss his second complete game of the postseason. However, the Dodgers looked confused at the plate and they did little else on the night. They did not work a walk, while striking out ten times.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

Cliff Lee was simply brilliant once again for the Phillies. He continued his postseason dominance by throwing eight shut out innings, allowing just three hits while fanning ten. He induced a double play and allowed only one runner to reach as far as second base. Lee did work with a slightly high pitch count, due to a lot of foul balls, but he did not struggle with his command. The lefty worked quickly through the Dodgers' lineup and had shut down innings every time the Phillies scored. His performance was one of the best ever by a Phillies pitcher in the playoffs.

The Phillies got right to work hitting Hiroki Kuroda early in the game. They strung together four hits in the first inning to take a quick 4-0 lead and sailed from there. Ryan Howard delivered again with a two-run triple, adding an RBI in seven straight playoff games, and Jayson Werth followed with a bomb to dead center field. In the second, Carlos Ruiz continued his hot postseason hitting with a double and later added a run-scoring single. Shane Victorino added the exclamation point with a three-run homer in the eighth. On the night, the Phillies hit everything, with runners in scoring position, and scored without relying on the long ball. It was a picture perfect offensive performance.

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Phillies Recap: NLCS Game Two

National League Championship Series - Game Two
Los Angeles Dodgers 2, Philadelphia Phillies 1
W - Hong-Chih Kuo (1-0, 0.00), L - Chan Ho Park (0-1, 13.50), S - Jonathan Broxton (1)

On a very sunny and warm afternoon in Chavez Ravine, the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers play a very close game in the second of the National League Championship Series. Despite the hot weather, both veteran hurlers Pedro Martinez and Vicente Padilla tossed gems for their teams. In the end, a costly error by Chase Utley helped the Dodgers' bullpen outperform the Phillies' pen. After leading for most of the afternoon by the slimmest of margins, the Phillies let the late lead get away for a 2-1 loss. The Phillies missed a great chance to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, but will instead travel home with a split.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies got a superb start out of Pedro Martinez, who went seven strong innings for them. He allowed just two hits and never allowed a base runner to reach third base. It was a better start than the Phillies could have even hoped for, but it was wasted. In the eighth inning, the Dodgers mounted a rally and the Phillies used five pitchers to get through the inning. A big error by Chase Utley, on what would have been a key double play, allowed the tying run to score and then, several batters later, enabled the go-ahead run to cross the plate. Chan Ho Park took the loss for the Phillies, a day after a clutch performance by the righty.

Despite the bullpen's collapse, the Phillies' offense was really to blame, mustering only one earned run off of Padilla before being shut down by the Dodgers' bullpen. Ryan Howard showed up and provided all of the offense, with a pair of hits and a solo home run. Most of the rest of the order was dominated by Padilla, which before the game would have been hard to imagine. As a team, the Phillies managed just four hits and walk, and bounced into a pair of critical double plays late in the game to kill any chance for insurance runs.

Game Summary: Los Angeles Dodgers

Vicente Padilla continued his resurgence with the Dodgers, as he limited the Phillies to just one run on four hits and a walk in 7.1 innings. He struck out six hitters and cruised through most of the game. The only blemish came on Ryan Howard's first career postseason home run on the road. After that, it was smooth sailing, as the Dodgers dipped into their bullpen and got a win from Hong-Chih Kuo and a save from Jonathan Broxton. The game was just how the Dodgers would have drawn it up.

On offense, the Dodgers didn't muster a threat until Pedro Martinez was out of the game. Once he was, the shadows crept across the infield and helped spur their eighth inning rally. They faced five Phillies pitchers and put together three hits, two walks, and leveraged Chase Utley's error to keep their inning alive. A bases loaded walk to Andre Ethier proved to be the difference in the game, though they missed a great chance for more runs as Manny Ramirez popped up with the bases loaded to end the inning.

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Phillies Recap: NLCS Game One

National League Championship Series - Game One

Philadelphia Phillies 8, Los Angeles Dodgers 6

W - Cole Hamels (1-0, 6.75), L - Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 9.64), S - Brad Lidge (1)

The beginning of the National League Championship Series was exciting and provided a preview into what the rest of the series will be like. Neither Cole Hamels or Clayton Kershaw pitched especially well and both were gone before the sixth inning concluded. In a back-and-forth affair, the Phillies actually led for most of the game, but it didn't feel like it. The Dodgers answered every Phillies rally but fell just short. The Phillies prevailed in a heart-pounder by a final of 8-6.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

Cole Hamels started the game and looked to once again dominate the Dodgers lineup. However, early on he was forced to throw a lot of pitches. He allowed an early homer and then after the Phillies spotted him a lead, gave back a hand full of runs. The rally against Hamels in the fifth inning was keynoted by a Manny Ramirez homer. In the sixth, Hamels again found trouble and was lifted for the bullpen, which was pieced together to hold off the Dodgers. Ryan Madson looked especially shaky but they got a huge boost from Chan Ho Park. Brad Lidge earned his third consecutive playoff save in the ninth.

On offense, the Phillies kept rolling, blasting a pair of homers on the evening. Carlos Ruiz got things started and continued his impressive playoff track record with a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Ryan Howard joined in with a two-run double to cap off the fifth inning scoring and Clayton Kershaw's outing. As the game progressed, it felt as though they would not break through to bolster their lead against the Dodgers bullpen. However, an instant rally in the eighth inning was mustered when Raul Ibanez blasted a three-run homer to give the Phillies their final cushion.

Game Summary: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers got a good start from Clayton Kershaw early. He mowed through the Phillies in the first four innings. Where have we heard that before? In the fifth inning, the Phillies really got to him, chasing him after scoring five earned runs. George Sherrill was also touched up for three runs in the eighth inning. But aside from that, the Dodgers bullpen was sharp. As a team, the Dodgers staff allowed only eight hits, but seven walks, five of which scored, really hurt them.

Hitting came easy to the Dodgers in this affair, as they seemed to hit line drives and grounders through every hole. They put together 14 hits and had base runners in almost every inning. However, they only went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Andre Ethier and James Loney, the Dodgers' primary lefties, led the way with three hits a piece. Nevertheless, the lack of clutch hits befell the Dodgers and left them on the short end of the decision.

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Phillies Recap: NLDS Game Four

National League Division Series - Game Four
Philadelphia Phillies 5, Colorado Rockies 4

W - Ryan Madson (1-0, 3.38), L - Huston Street (0-2, 13.50), S - Brad Lidge (2), Phillies Win NLDS 3-1

In what turned out to be another highly entertaining ball game, the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies fought in a back-and-forth affair. For the second straight night, the Phillies prevailed by the slimmest of margins to win the game. Cliff Lee tossed another gem of a start, going deep into the eighth inning, while Ubaldo Jimenez improved on his first start and went seven strong innings. The two teams matched late three-run innings late, which left the Phillies on the right side of the equation in a 5-4 victory. With the win, the Phillies won the series and advance to their second consecutive National League Championship Series.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

For most of the night, Cliff Lee dominated the Colorado Rockies lineup once again. Lee commanded all of his pitches and overcame a sketchy strike zone to be effective. The 31-year old pitched with a lead for most of the night, and went 7.1 innings, allowing three runs, one of which was earned, on five hits and three walks. He did not factor in the decision, but struck out five and gave the Phillies a great effort again. The Phillies bullpen was a little shaky at first, but they settled in and held off the Rockies' offense one final time. Brad Lidge entered and recorded the final out against Troy Tulowitzki in an identical situation as last night.

The Phillies came out swinging once again and put an early run on the board, thanks to Shane Victorino's solo homer. Jayson Werth added a solo shot in the sixth and for a while, it seemed like the low-scoring affair would hold that way. However, the Rockies climbed back into the game with three in the eighth inning, which put the pressure on the Phillies offense. After squandering several good scoring opportunities in the game, the Phils manufactured one after being down to their last strike. Ryan Howard delivered a clutch, two-out two-run double that was followed by Werth's game-winning single.

Game Summary: Colorado Rockies

Ubaldo Jimenez pitched well in the game, despite not seeming to ever be in complete control. He allowed a pair of solo home runs and also danced in and out of trouble in most other innings. The Phillies left the bases loaded against him in the third inning, and he allowed six hits and a pair of walks on the night. However, the real damage was done against Huston Street, the Rockies closer. Working with a two run lead in the ninth inning, Street allowed three earned runs on three hits and walk. The performance earned Street a blown save and his second consecutive loss in the series.

On offense, the Rockies didn't manage much against Cliff Lee. They didn't get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when they scratched out a run. The offense came out of its shell in the eighth inning, though, scoring three runs thanks to a Phillies error and a questionable strike zone again. Regardless, a Yorvit Torrealba double plated two runs and gave the Rockies the lead, and seemingly the win. But their offense again could not produce in the ninth inning with the game on the line.

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Phillies Recap: NLDS Game Three

National League Division Series - Game Three

Philadelphia Phillies 6, Colorado Rockies 5
W - Chad Durbin (1-0, 0.00), L - Huston Street (0-1, 4.50), S - Brad Lidge (1)

The critical third game of the National League Division Series was intense, exciting, and very cold. The Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies played in the coldest NLDS game (at the start of the game) and it was a nail-biter. Neither Jay Happ nor Jason Hammel lasted very long in the game and it became a bullpen battle. After a four hour affair, the Phillies finally surged ahead for good and took the important game three by a final score of 6-5.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

Jay Happ got the nod in the game instead of Joe Blanton and Pedro Martinez. From the outset, he struggled with a very inconsistent strike zone and, perhaps, the cold weather. After being spotted a quick lead, he surrendered three runs in the first two innings and was lifted for a pinch hitter after three unspectacular innings. Joe Blanton came in with a lead and also promptly allowed the game to be tied. However, he delivered 2.2 decent innings, allowing just one earned run. The Phillies pieced together three more relievers before getting to Brad Lidge in the ninth inning. Working with the slimmest of margins and the top of the Rockies order, Lidge delivered a heart-pounding save.

At the plate, the Phillies battled all night. They didn't have trouble getting base runners as they had eight hits and eight walks and scored six times. Chase Utley got things started with a first inning homer and both Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz delivered a pair of RBIs. However, a critical double play by Pedro Feliz killed a big rally in the fourth inning. The Phillies also struck out eleven times as a team, but were fortunate to have a number of timely hits to keep them in the game early.

Game Summary: Colorado Rockies

Jason Hammel started the game very strong, allowing just Utley's solo homer through the first three innings while fanning five. However, it all fell apart for him in the fourth inning, which he did not survive, as the Phillies tacked on several hits and walks. The Rockies' bullpen came in and did a decent job, allowing just two more runs over the rest of the game. However, the Phillies were able to rally in the ninth inning off of closer Huston Street to take the lead for good.

The Rockies were not very clutch in key hitting situations in the game. They seemed like they were just one big hit from taking control of the game, however that hit never came. They threatened in almost every inning, as Carlos Gonzalez was their spark plug once again. The Rockies managed 10 hits and four walks off of Phillies pitching, but they left eight men on base and went only two for nine with runners in scoring position. Down a run in the ninth with two men on, Brad Lidge induced a harmless fly out from Troy Tulowitzki to end the game.

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Phillies Recap: NLDS Game Two

National League Division Series - Game Two
Colorado Rockies 5, Philadelphia Phillies 4

W - Aaron Cook (1-0, 5.40), L - Cole Hamels (0-1, 7.20), S - Huston Street (1)

The second game of the National League Division Series between the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies was an exciting back and forth affair. The Rockies took an early lead that never quite seemed comfortable, but they managed to hang on for the win. Neither Aaron Cook nor Cole Hamels was especially sharp, and both starters went just five innings. However, by the end of the game, the Rockies hung on for a 5-4 victory.

Game Summary: Colorado Rockies

Aaron Cook started the game strong, scattering just a few base runners early. He benefited from pitching with a lead, and held the Phillies scoreless for five innings. But in the sixth inning, he ran into a lot of trouble with the heart of the Philly order creating some runs, and was lifted without recording an out. Cook last five plus innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and a pair of walks. He struck out four and turned the game over to five relievers who pieced together the win. Huston Street came in and recorded a shaky save in the ninth inning.

The Rockies were the beneficiaries of some helpful calls in this game, and took advantage early as they pushed across a run in the first inning. In the fourth, Yorvit Torrealba increased the lead with a two-run homer. The damage could have been a lot worse for the Phillies, but the Rockies stranded the bases loaded twice late, which kept the game close. Dexter Fowler hit a pair of sacrifice flies that proved to be pivotal in the game. The group as a whole had nine hits on the afternoon against Phillies pitching.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

With game two being very important, the Phillies hoped that Cole Hamels would return to his postseason form. It was not to be, as the lefty was hit around a bit and allowed four earned runs over five innings. Once again, Hamels had his pitch count creep up and was hurt on several two-strike pitches. He allowed seven hits and struck out five, without allowing a walk. The Phillies used six relievers, including Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ, who was hit on the knee by a line drive. Their relievers did a good job of working into and out of trouble and allowed just one earned run in four innings.

The Phillies offense was okay in this game, but got a slow start, which set them back. They managed 11 hits and had a few scoring opportunities that they took advantage of. A couple of double-play ground balls killed some of their chances, though. Raul Ibanez added two more hits and a pair of RBIs and Ryan Howard had two hits as well. Shane Victorino had three hits but ended the game with a weak line out with the tying run on second base. Overall, the bench was depleted a little too early, which handcuffed the Phillies' options late in the game.

Phillies NLDS Previews
Overview, Rotations, Bullpens, Hitters, Benches

Game Previews: One, Two, Three, Four

Game Recaps: One, Two, Three, Four

Phillies Recap: NLDS Game One

National League Division Series - Game One

Philadelphia Phillies 5, Colorado Rockies 1
W - Cliff Lee (1-0, 1.00), L - Ubaldo Jimenez (0-1, 9.00)

The opening game of the 2009 National League Division Series lived up to its exciting billing between the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies. In what was an extremely windy and sunny afternoon in South Philadelphia, the Phillies jumped on Ubaldo Jimenez and were carried by Cliff Lee's strong start to a game one victory. It was not an especially sharply played game, as the weather made for some defensive adventures. However, the Phils found themselves on the right side of a 5-1 final decision and took game one of the five game series.

Game Summary: Colorado Rockies

Ubaldo Jimenez came out throwing some real smoke, often touching triple-digits on the radar gun. He went through the Phillies' order once without trouble, and matched zeroes with Cliff Lee over four frames. However, Jimenez seemed lose command and composure in the fifth inning, as the Phillies got to him for two runs. In the sixth, Jimenez was unable to record an out, as he surrendered several hard hit balls before being lifted for relief. The final line on Jimenez was five earned runs on nine hits and a walk over five plus innings. He did strike out four but the damage had already been done. The Rockies' bullpen came in to shut down the Phillies after that point, using four more pitchers to complete the final three innings.

The Rockies hitters looked like they were going to jump all over Cliff Lee early. They put together a pair of hits in the first and lead off double in the second, but failed to score. Lee avoided trouble in the second thanks to a generous call on a fly-ball double play, which saw Jayson Werth pegging Yorvit Torrealba at third base. On the afternoon, the Rockies managed just six hits and no walks off of Lee. Carlos Gonzalez managed a pair of hits on the afternoon and Troy Tulowitzki delivered an RBI hit to lead the way for their offense.

Game Summary: Philadelphia Phillies

When Ubaldo Jimenez came out firing hard strikes and locating his breaking pitches, it seemed like it would be a long day for the Phillies. The first time through the order, the Phillies were not especially patient. But that all changed in the fifth inning which started with a Jayson Werth walk. Raul Ibanez drove him in with a double, his first of two RBIs, and later scored on Carlos Ruiz's RBI hit. In the sixth inning, the offense picked up where it left off, scoring three more runs. The Phillies' three through six hitters were a combined 7/15 with four RBIs and all five runs scored. Most important, they did not rely on the long ball to score.

Cliff Lee seemed to get off to a shaky start, allowing a pair of hits in the first inning. But he settled down well, putting together a stretch of 16 straight hitters retired at one point. Lee commanded all of his pitches and threw a lot of first pitch strikes. The Rockies were able to get to him for one late earned run, that proved unconsequential. For the day, Cliff Lee went the distance, throwing a six-hit complete game. He did not walk a batter and fanned five hitters, including Garrett Atkins to end the game.

Phillies NLDS Previews

Overview, Rotations, Bullpens, Hitters, Benches
Game Previews: One, Two, Three, Four
Game Recaps: One, Two, Three, Four

Phillies Recap: October 4, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 7, Florida Marlins 6

W - Durbin (2-2), L - Meyer (3-2)

The Philadelphia Phillies finished off the 2009 regular season with a bang, as they walked off to their 93rd victory. Playing with a mostly backup team, the Phillies fought back against the Marlins late and eventually won the game in 10 innings. Jay Happ got the start and tossed a couple of innings in what was essentially a bullpen outing. But the Phillies were able to tag Marlins' ace Josh Johnson and knock him out early. In the end, it was a Paul Hoover walk-off single that sealed a 7-6 win.

The Phillies used eight pitchers in 10 innings, in what was likely final tune ups and auditions for the postseason. With the roster in flux, the Phillies need to decided how many pitchers to carry and which to take. Early on, the Phillies pitchers were getting hit, but the bullpen came in and settled things down, one inning at a time. On the afternoon, Phillies pitchers allowed six earned runs over 10 innings on 11 hits and struck out eight.

Josh Johnson didn't finish the season the way he wanted, getting hit around by the AAA-Phillies team and leaving after 4.2 innings. It was a dismal way for Johnson to end his great season, as he allowed five earned runs on seven hits and walk. After taking the lead, the Marlins' pen came in and allowed the game to be tied and eventually lost the game in the 10th innning. Collectively, they allowed seven earned runs over 9.2 innings on 12 hits and they fanned 13 Phillies.

The walk-off win was nice, as it put an exclamation point on the regular season. It also gives the team and fans a boost, heading in to their NLDS series against the Rockies. The win also ensures that the Phillies will have home field advantage over the Cardinals if both teams make it to the NLCS. Now up for the Phillies is deciding how to lay out their post season roster for a short five-game series.

Phillies Recap: October 3, 2009

Florida Marlins 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3

W - Sanchez (4-8), L - Hamels (10-11), S - Nunez (26)

The Phillies played a full lineup but replaced starters earlier in a losing effort. Cole Hamels pitched the first three innings and surrendered some runs, but as just in to get some work. The Phils also got a pretty good look at their bullpen pieces as they prepare for the playoffs. Meanwhile the Marlins got a solid start from Anibal Sanchez again and despite losing a couple of their stars to injuries, won the game by a final of 4-3.

The game was basically meaningless to the Phillies, who learned that they would be assured home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Hamels went three shaky innings, after allowing runs in the first and second innings. He gave up three earned and struck out two. It was not an encouraging performance, but he is still in line to pitch game one or two for the defending world champions. The bullpen looked much better, with five different players throwing an inning or more.

Anibal Sanchez showed once again why he used to be considered a star prospect. Sanchez went seven strong innings against the Phillies again to pick up his second win in as many starts against them. He allowed one earned run on a Ryan Howard solo homer and five hits. Sanchez walked a pair and fanned three on the day. The Marlins bullpen came in and was shaky, as the Phillies put together some late rallies, but they came up short as the Marlins closed out their 87th victory of the season.

This will be one of the last losses this season that doesn't mean anything to the Phillies. The most important thing at this point is to stay rested and healthy as they enter the post season for the third straight year. Entering the final day of play, the Phillies cannot impact the playoffs in any meaningful way, therefore look for a lot of substitutes to get playing time. The starters will rest and relax and prepare for game one of the NLDS on Wednesday.

Phillies Recap: October 2, 2009

Florida Marlins 7, Philadelphia Phillies 2

W - VandenHurk (3-2), L - Blanton (12-8)

The Phillies were once again flat as Joe Blanton was jumped on by the aggressive Marlins lineup. Kirk VandenHurk was strong for the Marlins, keeping the Phillies shut down and the Marlins tacked on runs late to put the game away. Despite playing with a partial team, the Phillies lost a tough game tonight, as they pursue the best record in the National League. By the end of the night, the Phillies had been dealt a 7-2 loss.

Joe Blanton had his second straight rough start, allowing a lot of early runs on the night. Once the Phillies fell behind in the second inning, they would never be back in the game. For the game, Blanton allowed five earned runs on nine hits and a pair of walks. He pitched into the seventh inning, but lasted on six official innings, and struck out only three. The Phillies bullpen allowed a few late runs that finished them off.

The Phillies offense was again stagnant against the Marlins, this time facing Kirk VandenHurk. Ryan Howard crushed his 44th homer of the season but the Phillies offense did almost nothing else. VandenHurk went six solid innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits and a walk. The Marlins bullpen was impressive, though, as they came in for three shut out innings.

Once again, the Phillies failed to make up ground in the hunt for the best record in the National League. With two games left, the Phillies are 92-68 and can still improve on last season's record. It will be interesting to see what they do with their lineup the last two games of the season and how the rotation sets up. It is still much too early to tell who and where the Phillies will play in the first round of the playoffs.

Phillies Preview: September 30, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 10, Houston Astros 3

W - Kendrick (3-1), L - Moehler (8-12), Phillies Clinch NL East

Pedro Martinez was not sharp tonight but he battled his way through the early part of the game and kept the Phillies close. Slowly but surely, the Phillies offense broke through against Brian Moehler and the Astros. After falling behind early, by a score of 3-1, the Phillies continued to just score and put up nine unanswered runs. They pieced together the bullpen to record their 92nd win of the season, by a final of 10-3. With the win, the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the 2009 NL East title.

The Phillies were hoping for more from Pedro tonight. But to his credit, he got through four innings and limited the damage, despite not having very good stuff at all. He was lifted early for a pinch hitter and did not qualify for the win. On the night, he allowed three earned runs on six hits and a walk, but it could have been much worse. Kyle Kendrick came in for three scoreless innings of great relief, and picked up his third win of the season. In a classy move, Charlie Manuel brought in Brad Lidge to record the final out of the game.

For the Astros, it was the same old story for Brian Moehler as he started to fall apart in the middle innings. The Phillies began to hit the ball very hard for extra base hits and scored four times in a big fourth inning that put them ahead for good. Moehler allowed seven earned runs on six hits over 4.1 innings pitched. The Astros bullpen allowed the rest, as seven different Phillies had RBIs and they did not rely on the long ball too heavily. Raul Ibanez did hit his career high 34th homer of the year.

So the Philadelphia Phillies will retain their title as the National League East Champions for the third straight season. It was a great win for the Phillies, who would have clinched anyway because the Braves have lost. However, it now gives the Phillies four extra days to rest, work their rotation into place, and aim for the best record in the National League. The Cardinals had already lost, giving the Phillies a two game lead ahead of the Central champs. And the Dodgers entered play later, with just a one game lead over the Phillies. The Phillies are headed to the playoffs again!

Phillies Recap: September 29, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 7, Houston Astros 4

W - Happ (12-4), L - Lopez (0-1), S - Madson (10)

The Phillies had everyone at Citizens Bank Park holding their breath for most of the game. However, powered by the long ball, they jolted their way to their 91st victory of the season. It was a big win for the team, as they put together a solid start from Jay Happ and the offense got to Wilton Lopez. Pedro Feliz delivered the big hit with a grand slam in the fourth, leading the Phillies to a 7-4 victory.

Jay Happ pitched better than his numbers would indicate, and hung in for 5.2 innings. Despite having a very high pitch count early, Happ was getting the job done when he needed to, working out of several jams. Happ allowed three earned runs on nine hits and a walk. He struck out six and was lifted to his 12th victory by an uncharacteristically solid bullpen. One big concern was a groin strain that Jamie Moyer suffered on his final pitch in the seventh inning.

The Phillies offense looked like it was going to once again get shut down by a rookie. Wilton Lopez was strong out of the gate, but the Phillies rallied in the fourth. They loaded the bases with no one out and Pedro Feliz wasted no time depositing his second grand slam of the season deep into left field. The Phillies did well to tack on runs late, though they were not as patient as they could have been. Still, when the team scores seven runs, they should win the game.

With the win tonight, the Phillies have turned around their whole outlook on the home stretch of the season. Coupled with a Braves loss that came just a few minutes after the conclusion of the game, the Phillies' magic number is now down to one. That means the Phils will have five tries to seal the deal on their third straight NL East crown. The Phillies also surged a full game ahead of the Cardinals in the race for the best record in the National League; they still trail the Dodgers by two games entering play late tonight. More importantly, tonight gave everyone a boost of confidence in their offense and pitching.

Phillies Recap: September 28, 2009

Houston Astros 8, Philadelphia Phillies 2

W - Bazardo (1-2), L - Hamels (10-10)

The Phillies didn't show up for their first game of four against the Astros. The Astros out-pitched, out-hit, and out-played the Phillies all night long. Cole Hamels started strong but began to wear down and find trouble in the middle innings. Meanwhile, Astros' rookie Yorman Bazardo dominated a punchless Phillies lineup that never really threatened much all night. By the time the disaster was over, the Astros had beaten the Phils 8-2.

The Phillies did not look impressive on the mound. Cole Hamels made it through the Astros order once before running into problems. Hamels went 6.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and three walks. He did strike out five but overall, it was an ineffective night for the lefty. The Phillies bullpen came in and did just as poorly, allowing the game to get completely out of hand. It was a forgettable night for the Phils' pitchers.

The Phillies bats were equally bad against the rookie Yorman Bazardo. Coming in with an ERA near 10, Bazardo looked like an ace on the mound, allowing just two runs on two hits. He did walk four and strike out four over his 5.2 innings. It was his first career victory and came in an inexcusable fashion. No one in the Phillies lineup had particularly good at bats and they seemed anxious at the dish.

With the Braves winning again on Monday night, the Phillies' magic number remains three. The Phillies suddenly find themselves just four games ahead with six to play. They are dangerously close to making the NL East a race again. For now, it will be important to forget this loss and focus on tomorrow's game. The Phillies still control their own destiny and can clinch a playoff berth by Wednesday, so it's too soon to press the panic button.

Phillies Recap: September 27, 2009

Philadelphia Phillies 6, Milwaukee Brewers 5

W - Blanton (12-7), L - Bush (5-9), S - Madson (9)

The Phillies came out of the gate early and scored runs for Joe Blanton. However, Blanton was not very sharp and kept the Brewers in the ballgame. Though he pitched with a lead all day, the game never felt under control. Dave Bush was hit hard by the Phillies but they left 14 runners on base in the game, leading to a close conclusion. However, they hung on to win the game 6-5.

Joe Blanton did not have electric stuff. His pitch count escalated quickly and though he pitched from ahead, he was shaky. In the sixth inning, Blanton finally gave up the big hit as the Brewers put together a four-run inning on him. On the afternoon, Blanton went 5.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and four walks. The bullpen kept the Phillies ahead with the slimest of margins, and Ryan Madson came in to record a four-out save.

For the Brewers, the damage could have been a lot worse. Dave Bush was very erratic and had trouble locating his breaking pitches. However, the Phillies were not very patient with him and he did settle down, after allowing four early runs. Bush went 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and a walk. Once again, the Brewer bullpen held the Phillies offense in check and kept them off the score board for the final four frames. Jimmy Rollins got the scoring started for the Phillies with a lead off homer.

This was an important win for the Phillies. They finish the Brewers series and road trip at an even .500 and lower their magic number to three. More importantly, it builds some confidence in their much-maligned bullpen. The save for Madson is especially important, if he is to continue in that role into the playoffs. The win marks the Phillies' 90th of the season and 48th of the season on the road.

Phillies Recap: September 26, 2009

Milwaukee Brewers 7, Philadelphia Phillies 5

W - Hoffman (2-2), L - Walker (2-1)

The Phillies jumped all over Braden Looper and the Brewers and took a 4-0 lead in support of Kyle Kendrick. However, the team just couldn't hold the lead and allowed the Brewers to claw their way back into the game. With the game tied going into the ninth, the Brew Crew won the game on a walk-off home run by Ryan Braun. The final score was 7-5 in a game that the Phillies really should have won.

Sloppy defense and a shaky start by Kyle Kendrick did not help to preserve the Phillies' early lead. Kendrick started off strong but quickly began to fall apart, allowing base hits and walks. In four innings, Kendrick allowed two runs on six hits and a pair of walks. He fanned four but was lifted early as he never really looked in control of the game. Jamie Moyer came on and gave the Phillies four solid innings of relief, but was the victim of some poor defense that allowed the game to be tied late. The Phillies bullpen then allowed the walk-off home run to Braun.

Braden Looper was not especially good and the Phillies touched him up for four early runs. However, he did seem to settle in and held the Brewers close for six innings. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits and walk, while striking out five. The Brewers' bullpen again came in and shut down the Phillies offense for the final three innings. Ryan Howard did hit his 43rd homer of the season in the losing effort.

In a game that featured five errors and poor play from both sides, the Phillies can only blame themselves for this loss. They built an early lead that they couldn't hold on to and failed to add much to their lead late in the game. The tandem of Kyle Kendrick and Jamie Moyer did fairly well, but got little help from the rest of the team. That led to the dramatic finish, which leaves the Phillies' magic number at four with eight games left to play.