Phillies Win 2008 World Series

Phillies Beat Rays 4-3 in Game 5 and Win Series 4-1

Oct 30, 2008 Justin Harrington

It took more than 48 hours from start to finish until Game 5 finally ended with a Brad Lidge slider that secured the team's second World Series trophy in its 126 seasons

After the Phillies took an early 2-0 lead over the Rays in the first part of Game 5, Tampa Bay fought back to tie the game before torrential rain made it impossible to continue and play was suspended following the top of the sixth inning. The game was originally slated to be completed on Tuesday evening but rain again interrupted play and it was rescheduled for this evening. So, 46 hours following the suspension of the game, the Phillies came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth, looking to end the series.

Flashback to Monday night...the Phillies started their scoring early, again, when Shane Victorino hit a two-run single in the first inning off starter Scott Kazmir. Then the Rays got a run back in the fourth when Carlos Pena hit a double off of Cole Hamels and was brought home by a single from Evan Longoria. It was the first hit of the series for either batter. The rain began to fall and the temperature began to drop. It was easy to spot the effect the elements had when Jimmy Rollins was unable to track down and catch an otherwise routine infield fly ball in the fifth inning. One inning later, B.J. Upton singled with two outs. Hamels kept an eye on the speedy runner with four pick-off attempts but, with Pena batting, Upton was able to steal second base and put the tying run in scoring position. Five pitches later, Pena singled to left field, driving in Upton, tying the score and causing the umpires to call the game off.

Forty-Six Hours Later

Leading up to the continuation of the game, many wondered, with Cole Hamels slated to bat, who would go to the plate. Would it be Matt Stairs? Greg Dobbs? Geoff Jenkins? Well, Manuel decided on Jenkins, and he didn't disappoint. Grant Balfour took the pinch-hitter to a full count before Jenkins connected on a fast ball and sent it deep to right-center field for a lead-off double. Rollins then followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance Jenkins to third. Then, Jayson Werth hit a pop-up into shallow center field that second baseman Akinori Iwamura couldn't handle and bobbled on an over-the-shoulder catch attempt, allowing Jenkins to come home safely and giving the Phillies back the lead, 3-2.

But the lead disappeared as quickly as it came when Rocco Baldelli took a Ryan Madson first-pitch fast ball deep to left in the top of the seventh for a solo homer and a tie game. Chase Utley saved another Tampa Bay run in the inning when he faked a throw to first base, where he had no play, off a soft hit by Iwamura and fired the ball home instead to catch Jason Bartlett out at the plate and end the threat. Just when it looked like offensive momentum had maybe shifted back to the Tampa Bay Rays, Pat Burrell started the bottom of the seventh with a double off the wall in left-center that missed being a homer by inches. It was a timely hit for Burrell and his first in the World Series. Eric Bruntlett came in to run for Burrell and advanced to third when Victorino hit a sacrifice ground out to second base. Up stepped Pedro Feliz and he delivered the biggest RBI of his career when he sent a curve ball from Chad Bradford up the middle to score Bruntlett. The Philadelphia lead was 4-3 and they were six outs away from winning the championship.

The eighth inning was uneventful and set up the save opportunity for Lidge in the ninth. Lidge was looking to remain perfect and save his 48th game in as many chances this season. The inning began with a Longoria pop out to Utley. Then Dioner Navarro singled to put a pinch-runner on, who proceeded to steal second base. Ben Zobrist hit a ball to right field that looked dangerous but was handled easily by Werth for the second out. Up stepped pinch hitter Eric Hinske, looking to be the hero. That's when Lidge unleashed his devastating slider and the following sequence: slider--->foul, slider--->swinging strike, slider--->swinging strike. And with that, Lidge dropped to his knees as Carlos Ruiz threw off his helmet and charged toward him and the rest of the Phillies followed to form a celebratory pile-up at the mound while 45,000-plus fans erupted in cheer. The City of Brotherly Love can finally breathe a sigh of relief and call their 2008 Philadelphia Phillies World Champions.

Hamels was named World Series MVP. He finished 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in the series and 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 30 strikeouts overall in the postseason.

Sources:

www.mlb.com

www.philadelphiaphillies.com

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