Keeping the Lead

2-1, Philadelphia. Bottom of the 9th. Brad Lidge on the mound. Albert Pujols, Ryan Ludwick, and Troy Glaus due up. Albert Pujols. Brad Ligde. They go way back.

In the 2005 playoffs, Albert Pujols took Brad Lidge deep. After that, Lidge just wasn't the same. That was until he came to Philadelphia.

Lidge got Pujols to ground out to shortstop Jimmy Rollins. He would strike out Ludwick. Two outs. Glaus worked a walk to represent the tying run, and bring up the winning run. Rick Ankiel came in to pinch hit for Yadier Molina. Ankiel has been sidelined due to abdominal pain. But he would come into pinch hit.

The Cardinal crowd roared hoping for a walk off. The intensity rose. Nerves jittered throughout both Philadelphia and St. Louis fans. The 2-2 pitch...

Struck him out! Brad Lidge completed his 27th consecutive save as a Phillie.

There was a game before the 9th inning though. And Joe Blanton dominated. He earned the win lasting 7.0 innings. He would only give up 1 earned run, a solo homerun to Ryan Ludwick in the 7th inning. He gave up 4 hits, walked 2 and struck out 5. His first win as a Phillie was an impressing one.

J.C Romero and Chad Durbin got through some trouble in the 8th to set it up for Lidge. Romero walked a batter, but with one out, Durbin came in and got the double play ball. Durbin has been excellent for the Phillies. His ERA is a minuscule 1.65.

The Phillies received their only run support by solo homeruns by Greg Dobbs and Ryan Howard.

There's no place like home, and that's the case for Ryan Howard. Howard just tears apart his hometown Cardinals. With family and friends in the stands, Howard does not disappoint.

Additionally, the Phillies top prospect, Carlos Carrasco, is a step closer to the Major Leagues. Carrasco was promoted to AAA Leigh-High Valley. He has pitched 114.2 innings with an ERA of 4.32 in AA Reading. The Phillies feel that he ready to pitch against higher competition, so he can make a run for a spot in the 2009 rotation.