Oct 13 2008
“Stairs”-way to Heaven: PH HR puts Phillies up 3-1 in NLCS
Once again, the Phillies did things the hard way in Game 4 of the NLCS. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, it looked like the Phillies may actually have a good game. Then, Joe Blanton gave one back in the bottom of the first inning. Then, the Phillies’ offense went dormant. The Dodgers got to Blanton again in the fifth inning and took a 3-2 lead courtesy of a Manny Ramirez RBI single and a fielder’s choice that scored Andre Eithier. L.A. had all of the momentum. Dodger Stadium was rocking. It was not looking good for the Phightins.
After Ryan Howard scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Charlie Manuel decided it was a good idea to bring in Chad Durbin to hold the lead. You know, the same Chad Durbin that cost the Phillies two wins in L.A. earlier this season. He was warmly greeted by Casey Blake, who hit a home run to lead off the inning. 4-3 Dodgers. Then Juan Pierre doubled and Matt Kemp walked. Great effort, Chad. Can you please remind Charlie that you haven’t been good since early July? That would really be appreciated by all Phillies fans. Why Charlie didn’t just bring in Ryan Madson to pitch a couple of innings is utterly baffling.
The inning got worse from there. Rafael Furcal tried to sacrifice bunt and hit it to Ryan Howard. All Howard had to do was make a simple throw to Chase Utley, who was covering first base. Instead, he threw it into right field and a run scored. 5-3 L.A. How can he not make such a simple throw!? Oh wait. There are no simple throws when you’re dealing with Howard. In fact, he cannot successfully make any throws to any bases. Howard is an absolute butcher in the field and thus a total liability to this team. If he was actually producing offensively, it wouldn’t be as bad, but he’s been a total waste in the playoffs. I can’t believe that he will probably make close to $20 million next year through arbitration. I’m pretty sure that the arbitrator has never watched him play.
Luckily, Ryan Madson finally came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth and forced an inning ending double play to avoid further damage. Big ups to Chase Utley on that double play for making that tag after the line out to double up Furcal. A game-saving play to say the least
Then, in the eighth inning, the offense finally woke up in La La Land. It also didn’t hurt that the Dodgers’ bullpen choked it up. Howard led off the inning with a single, but Pat Burrell popped out. “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” Shane Victorino came to the rescue by connecting on a game-tying two-run home run. Victorino has blatantly been the team’s playoff MVP. He now has the most RBIs (11) in a single-postseason in franchise history. Shane is this team’s Lenny Dykstra, but without the steroids. After Pedro “Peter Happy” Feliz lined out, it looked like this game could go extra innings. However, Carlos Ruiz kept the inning alive with a single. Matt Stairs came up to pinch hit for Madson and absolutely tore the cover off of the ball with a bomb to deep right. Stairs, a seemingly meaningless August acquisition, has arguably the biggest hit of the season. Phillies lead 7-5. All of the life sucked out of Dodger Stadium with one crack of the bat. Amazing.
J.C. “Holds” Romero came on and did his thing by getting two outs in the bottom of the eighth and Uncle Charlie felt it was a good time to turn it over to Brad Lidge for his first four-out save of the year. Lidge was extremely shaky in the eighth and struggled to get the last out, but he got through the inning without any damage. Then in the ninth, he became “Lights Out” Lidge. Total domination. Game over. 7-5. Final. Phillies win! Phillies win!
Mad props to Matt Stairs, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, and Brad Lidge tonight!
The Phils are now one win away from the World Series. Cole Hamels takes the mound in Game 5 with a chance to close out the series. This will definitely show what this kid is made of. I think he’s going to be his typical stud self and I hope he will not fold under the pressure. We will find out soon enough.
Go Phillies.
