The Phillies' Road to the 2008 World Series

Philadelphia Beat Milwaukee and Los Angeles to Earn Their Berth

Nov 8, 2008 Justin Harrington

The Philadelphia Phillies lost just one game in each of the NLDS and NLCS series but fought some close battles on their way to advancing to the World Series.

After being swept by the Colorado Rockies in the first round of last year's playoffs, the Phillies returned to the postseason by winning their division for the second consecutive year. Philadelphia again took advantage of another late-season collapse by the New York Mets and won 14 of their last 19 games to finish the year with 92 wins and 70 losses. They entered the playoffs looking to win the city's second World Series title (the other was won in 1980 against the Kansas City Royals) and the first championship of any major sports team in Philadelphia in 25 years (the NBA's 76ers won in 1983).

Round 1 NLDS

Philadelphia Phillies vs Milwaukee Brewers (best of 5)

  • Game 1 (Phillies 3, Brewers 1): Starting pitcher Cole Hamels was brilliant as he struck out nine over eight innings and allowed just two hits. Philadelphia scored all three of their runs in the third inning, two of them off a double by Chase Utley. Brad Lidge surrendered a run in the ninth but recorded the save.
  • Game 2 (Phillies 5, Brewers 2): Shane Victorino hit his first career grand slam and the first in Phillies' postseason history to lead a five-run second inning. Brett Myers pitched for the win while Lidge picked up the save.
  • Game 3 (Brewers 4, Phillies 1): 45-year-old starting pitcher Jamie Moyer struggled and gave up two runs in the first inning and the Phillies could not rally for the series-clinching win in Milwaukee.
  • Game 4 (Phillies 6, Brewers 2): The Phillies hit four home runs, including a three-run shot from Pat Burrell, and witnessed a strong outing on the mound from Joe Blanton, who had seven strikeouts and gave up just one run over six innings, as they advanced to the NL championship for the first time since 1993.

Phillies Win NLDS 3 Games to 1

Round 2 NLCS

Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers (best of 7)

  • Game 1 (Phillies 3, Dodgers 2): The Phillies scored all three of their runs in the sixth courtesy of homers from Utley and Burrell, and Hamels kept the Dodgers in check by striking out eight and giving up just two runs over seven innings. Lidge picked up the save.
  • Game 2 (Phillies 8, Dodgers 5): Starting pitcher Myers was the difference in the game as he gave up five runs on the mound but went 3-for-3 from the plate, driving in three runs and scoring two. Victorino brought in four runs off two hits. Lidge picked up the save.
  • Game 3 (Dodgers 7, Phillies 2): Moyer struggled in his second start of the postseason, giving up five runs in just 1 1/3 innings of work. Tensions mounted in the third inning after Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda threw a pitch over the head of a ducking Victorino. Following a groundout by Victorino the two started jawing at each other, resulting in the benches clearing but no punches being thrown.
  • Game 4 (Phillies 7, Dodgers 5): Down 5-3 in the eight inning, the Phillies rallied for four runs behind two-run homers from Victorino and pinch-hitter Matt Stairs. Reliever Ryan Madson was credited with the win while Lidge picked up his fifth-straight save of the postseason and 46th in as many chances since joining the Phillies last offseason.
  • Game 5 (Phillies 5, Dodgers 1): Hamels propelled the Phillies into the World Series with another masterful pitching performance, striking out five batters and surrendering one lone run off of five hits over seven innings. Jimmy Rollins started the scoring for the Phillies with a home run to lead off the game (he also did this in the series-clinching win against Milwaukee). The Phillies capitalized on three errors by Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal to score two more runs in the fifth inning after plating the other two in the third.

Phillies Win NLCS 4 Games to 1

Hamels was awarded 2008 NLCS MVP honours after going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 13 strikeouts in the series.

How the Phillies Won the 2008 World Series...

Sources:

www.mlb.com

www.philadelphiaphillies.com

The copyright of the article The Phillies' Road to the 2008 World Series in Baseball is owned by Justin Harrington. Permission to republish The Phillies' Road to the 2008 World Series in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.