Oct 10 2008
Myers and Victorino provide offensive spark; Phillies lead 2-0 in NLCS
Charlie Manuel might want to think about swapping Brett Myers and Ryan Howard in the line-up the next time that Myers takes the mound. After going 4-for-58 at the plate during the regular season, Myers is 4-for-5 during the playoffs, including going a perfect 3-for-3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs during the Phillies’ 8-5 win in Game 2 of the NLCS. As good as he was at swinging the bat, Myers was equally as bad on the mound. Myers pitched 5 innings and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts. Not his best work, but he helped himself a lot at the dish.
With the Dodgers leading 1-0 with 2 outs in the bottom of the second inning, the Phillies took command of the game. Greg Dobbs got on with a single and scored from first on a Carlos Ruiz double that rolled to the wall. Myers followed by roping a single to center that plated Ruiz and gave the Phils a 2-1 lead. Jimmy Rollins continued the parade of hits to center with a single-turned-double via a Matt Kemp error to put runners at second and third. Then, “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” Shane Victorino proceeded to break the game open with yet another single to center that scored Myers and Rollins. Citizens Bank Park was rocking as the Phightins were rolling towards another win.
James Loney got one back for L.A. in the third with an RBI-single, but Myers was able to escape the inning without any additional damage. With the bases-loaded and 1 out after Carlos Ruiz blew his opportunity at extending the Phillies’ lead, Myers sliced a single down the first base line that scored two more and increased the lead to 6-2. It would also spell the end of Chad Billingsley’s forgettable outing–2.1 IP, 8 R (7 ER), 8 H, 5 K, 3 BB. Chan Ho Park did not have an easier time with the Phils as he allowed a 2 RBI-triple by Victorino before he was told to hit the showers. On a side note, Victorino has been ridonkulous in both of Myers’s playoff starts. In those games, Victorino is 5-for-9 with a Grand Slam, a triple, two doubles, 9 RBI, a walk, and two steals. In the other four games, he’s only 2-for-14 with a double and two runs scored.
After walks to Chase Utley and “The Invisible Man” Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell squandered a bases-loaded opportunity with his patented strike out looking. Speaking of Howard, he was awful yet again. He’s gone hitless in five of the team’s six playoff games and is now 2-for-19 with 2B, 1 RBI, 7 K, 6 BB. Not the type of performance you want to see out of your clean-up hitter in the playoffs. It’s a good thing that pretty much every other Phillie has picked up his slack.
Now that they were sporting an 8-2 lead, it seemed like the Phillies would cruise to an easy win. However, Manny Ramirez had different ideas. After Myers induced a double play, it seemed like things were going well. Unfortunately, when he struck out Rafael Furcal, the ball got away and Furcal reached first to extend the inning. Russell Martin followed with a single and the Ramirez sent Myers’s offering into the flower beds in left field. With one swing of Manny’s mighty bat, he sucked the life out of the crowd at CBP. Just like that the lead was cut in half and the Phillies were now clinging to an 8-5 lead.
Things were not looking good for the Phils as random relief pitcher James McDonald completely obliterated the Phightins. McDonald pitched 3.1 innings of two-hit ball and issued only 1 free pass while K’ing five. It’s kind of disgraceful that this nobody shut down the Phillies. The Phils didn’t perform much better against stud rookies Clayton Kershaw (1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 K, and 1 BB) and Cory Wade (0.1 IP, 0 H). So if you’re keeping score at home, the Dodgers’ three rookie pitchers combined for 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, while their three veterans lasted 2.2 innings and allowed 8 runs (7 earned) on 9 hits with 6 K and 3 BB, but that’s essentially all on Billingsley.
Luckily, the Phillies’ bullpen was just as strong. Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, and Ryan Madson combined to throw three scoreless innings while only allowing two hits and one walk to go with three strikeouts. However, Romero and Madson walked the tightrope a bit as J.C. issued a two-out walk to Kemp before being lifted for the Mad Dog, who gave up a single to Nomar Garciaparra to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Casey Blake. With the crack of the bat, Blake gave all 45,883 fans in attendance a simultaneous heart attack, but Victorino made a leaping catch at the wall in deep center that essentially saved the game.
Ultimately, the relievers were successful in constructing the Bridge to Lidge. Once again, Brad Lidge did not disappoint the Phillies Phaithful, but he certainly made it interesting. Mr. Lidge walked Ramirez to lead off the inning, and then got Andre Eithier to strike out swinging before walking Loney. Kemp came to the plate as the tying run with one out, but Lidge battled and got him to strike out swinging. Then Lidge completely abused Nomar with a three-pitch strike out to end the game. Phillies win 8-5! Lidge has now converted 45 consecutive saves, including four in the post season. Not bad at all.
Saturday is an off day as the teams head to L.A. for Games 3 and 4, and if necessary Game 5. “Old Man” Jamie Moyer will take the hill for the Phillies in Game 3, while “Fat” Joe Blanton will pitch Game 4. The Dodgers will counter with Hiroki Kuroda in Game 3, and they have not named a starter for Game 4, although it will probably be Game 1 starter Derek Lowe. If all goes well, the Phillies will be able to win the series in L.A. The Phils just need to take it one game at a time and it will all work itself out.
Go Phillies.
