Wolf To Face Former Club

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Milwaukee Brewers (62-73) at Philadelphia Phillies (78-58)

Randy Wolf (10-10, 4.76) vs. Kyle Kendrick (9-7, 4.72)

In Saturday's 5-4 victory, Roy Halladay surrendered four homers, but the Phillies offense rallied, en route to their fifth straight win. The Phillies become a scary team in September, and they're just a game back in the National League East.

Former Phillie Randy Wolf will take the mound for the Brew Crew, but don't expect a Wolf Pack reunion. This is Wolf's second appearance at Citizens Bank Park in an away jersey. Phillies fans know what Wolf brings to the table. Sometimes he can be on his "A" game; other times he can get rocked. That sounds very familiar to Wolf's counterpart, Kyle Kendrick.

The offense is starting to pick it up, especially Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard. Howard is always a scary hitter late in the season, thus taking the name Mr. September. Howard does not have good career numbers against Wolf, but the Phillies need Howard to continue to have his September push.

Howard Heats Up as Blanton Looks To Rebound

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Philadelphia Phillies (47-41) at Chicago Cubs (40-50)
Joe Blanton (3-5, 6.41 ERA) vs. Ted Lilly (3-8, 4.08 ERA)

Last night was one to forget. Forget about it, and start fresh today.

Joe Blanton needs to get back on the right track. Now would be the perfect time to turn things around. Throughout his career, he has been a second half pitcher (4.33 in the first half; 3.99 in the second half).

With a solid performance today, Ted Lilly could raise his market value. The soon-to-be free agent has been linked to several trade rumors. Lilly has struggled in his last five starts, posting an earned run average over six. His career numbers against the Phillies are not pretty either, also with an ERA over six.

One positive from last night's game was Ryan Howard, who homered twice. Howard has received some criticism for his lower power numbers, but expect them to rise. Howard's on-base plus slugging percentage is .875 in the first half throughout his career. In the second half, it is 1.045! That's a major difference. This is the time of the year Howard really starts to heat up. Howard does have a home run in his book against Lilly.

Pitching Can't Stop Cubs

This one got ugly real fast. Ryan Howard quickly put the Phillies ahead 2-0, but boy did this game escalate quickly.

With Howard's two-run home run, it seemed like the Phillies were starting the second half on the right foot. Howard later homered in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, those two home runs runs weren't nearly enough.

Aramis Ramirez smacked a two-run double off Jamie Moyer to tie the game at two. Later, Starlin Castro stole home to give the Cubs a lead, and that was pretty much the game. Moyer blew up for six earned runs in three innings. He gave up two home runs; one to Derek Lee, another to Alfonso Soriano.

The game really came out of reach when Jose Contreras pitched in relief. Contreras surrendered five earned runs in just 2/3 of an inning, including a Geovanny Soto three-run shot.

Poor pitching led to the 12-6 defeat. It was certainly not a way the Phillies would have liked to start the second half, but tomorrow is a new day.

NL Finally Wins All Star Game

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The National League won the All Star Game for the first time since 1996, a year where the game was played at Veterans Stadium and Ricky Botallico was the Phillies only representative. Charlie Manuel led the 2010 NL All Stars to a 3-1 victory over the star studded American League.

Ubaldo Jiminez and Josh Johnson each pitched two superb innings. The American League scored their lone, unearned run against Hong-Chih Kuo.

Aggressive base-running by Scott Rolen eventually paid off. Brian McCann provided the knock with a three-run double with two outs in the seventh. Phillies fans have seen this so many times from McCann, so it was different being on the other side of a McCann clutch hit. McCann was ultimately named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Ryan Howard served as the designated hitter for the National League. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout against David Price. Howard also grounded out.

Roy Halladay pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowing two hits and striking out one. Manuel may have misused him in the situation. Instead of bringing Halladay in earlier, Kuo was brought in. Halladay was forced to warm up twice.

Jonathan Broxton closed the doors to secure home field advantage for the National League. Overall, it was a well-played game. In the year of the pitcher, it was only fitting that the All Star Game was dominated by brilliant pitching performances.

David Ortiz was the Home Run Derby Champion.

Improbable Comeback Stuns Reds

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Baseball is such an unpredictable sport. One team can have all the momentum, but in the blink of an eye, it can switch over to the other side. That's what makes the game great. Just when it can't get any worse for the Phillies, Greg Dobbs shines a light of hope. The Phillies pulled off an improbable 9-7 comeback on an evening with a huge turn of events. These are the comeback kids that the fans love. It's amazing how quickly boos turn to cheers.

There were several misplays on both sides during Thursday's game. The errors carried over immediately on Friday as Jimmy Rollins botched the very first play of the game. Several batters later, Johnny Gomes sent Joe Blanton's offering into the left field seats. Blanton never settled in.

Blanton got knocked around in 5.1 innings. He surrendered six runs, five earned, on a whopping twelve hits and two walks. The Reds were hitting shots off him; he never found a groove. Lately, Charlie Manuel has been critizied for leaving his starters in too long. If there was ever a good time to lift Blanton, it was in the bottom of the fifth. Instead, Manuel let Blanton hit for himself. Blanton allowed a few base runners in the top of the sixth before Manuel pulled him. Blanton tipped his cap to an upset crowd, and headed for the showers. Luckily, David Herdon avoided further damage.

In the meantime, Mike Leake cruised. The rookie who skipped the minor leagues looked like a long time veteran retiring batter after batter. At one point, Herdon's pitch count in a little over an inning matched Leake's through five. Leake dominated. He even went 3-for-4, having a much better night at the plate than most Phillies.

It looked like the game was over, and the Reds had an easy victory. Not so fast. All the trouble came in the ninth. Leake went out for the complete game, but ran into trouble: the return of the Phillies offense. Shane Victorino led off with a double, and Leake could not finish the game off. Ryan Howard drove in Victorino with a single, but the big momentum shift came off the bat of Dobbs. Since being designated for assignment, Dobbs has had a fire under his belt. He's starting to hit again, and boy did he get ahold of one. Dobbs smoked a three-run shot off the foul pole, putting the Phillies down 7-5. The damage was far from over.

Leake failed to close out the game, so Dusty Baker brought in closer Francisco Cordero. He didn't exactly get the job done either. Ben Francisco drew a huge two-out walk, bringing the tying run to the plate. Then, Cody Ransom earned his pinstripes. Cordero threw him an outside fastball, and he hit the ball where it was pitched; he sent it in the first row of the opposite field. The crowd turned electric as the score became even.

The Phillies were unable to score another in the ninth, but the six-run inning was plenty, sending the game into extra innings for the second straight night. Ryan Madson tossed a 1-2-3 tenth, striking out two, with his changeup looking better than ever.

In the bottom of the tenth, a lead-off double once again started a rally. Raul Ibanez greeted Arthur Rhodes with a double, but Howard topped that with an opposite field blast. Another day, another walk-off home run. Arthur Rhodes sure must hate facing the Phillies. He has given up six runs all year; five to the Phillies (revenge for 2006?).

As Howard rounded the bases, all sorts of excitement and emotion were released. This is the team that the fans want to see more of. This is the team that the city fell in love with. Perhaps these are the types of games that can turn a season around for the better.

Mid Season Report Card: Offense

This is a midseason review, which is also featured on Phillies Nation. Visit Phillies Nation for the full feature, which includes other blogger's opinions.

Jimmy Rollins: C+

Since he missed most of the season due to injury, it's hard to put a grade on Rollins. Before he was first placed on the disabled list, he showed tremendous patience at the plate. However, after his second return, all his numbers dipped off. The injured calf is mainly to blame, but Rollins is a player who is capable of stealing many bases; he only has two this season. The Phillies are a much better team when Rollins is healthy; they need him to be the spark plug.

Placido Polanco: B+

Despite losing at-bats due to his injury, Polanco remains near the league leaders in average (.318). He's not going to hit for power, but his slugging percentage is up from where it was at this point last year (.386 midway through '09, .433 midway through '10). Defensively, he has adjusted fine from second to third. The Phillies have gotten what they expected from Polanco. It's just a shame he's hurt.

Chase Utley: B+

He's the best second baseman in baseball, but he's having a down year -- for Chase Utley. His month long slump put a toll on his stats. He's batting .277; he's usually around the .290 mark. He's slugging .466; he's usually over .500. His OPS is .849; it's usually over .900. It just shows how spoiled we are to watch a player like Chase. His "down year" is above average for most players. It hurts that he'll be out so long.

Ryan Howard: B+

His batting average is way up. His strikeout numbers are way down, but so are his power numbers. Decide which Ryan Howard you like more: the one that will hit tons of home runs but strike out quite a bit, or the one that will hit for average, strike out less, but will also hit less home runs? You decide. He's having a very good season, but I'd still like to see a bigger power display from him.

Jayson Werth: A

Werth has had his ups and downs, but he has put together a solid year at the plate. A line of .286 AVG/ .371 OBP/ .531 SLG/ .902 OPS isn't too shabby. He has 26 doubles midway through 2010; that was his total for ALL of last year. He has slumped, however when he is hot, he's on fire.

Raul Ibanez: D+

There have been a lot less "RAAUUUUUUUL" chants this year. Last season was one of Raul's better seasons, but this year he can't even come close to the numbers he put up with Seattle and Kansas City.

Shane Victorino: C+

I like that Victorino is attempting to steal. It seems like he is only Phillie that is attempting to. His slugging percentage is about where it usually is (.446), but his average (.252) and on-base percentage (.322) are lower than normal. The Phillies need him on base.

Carlos Ruiz: C+

Chooch was having one of his better years at the plate before suffering an injury. The backstop is known more for his catching abilities, and has done a tremendous job defensively behind the plate, from calling the game to making game-saving plays.

Bench: D+

During the offseason, Ruben Amaro gave the bench a whole new look, hoping to improve on 2009. Many of those bench players have turned into "everyday" players, thanks to numerous injuries. Charlie Manuel always says that he needs to give his bench players at-bats for them to do well. Players like Wilson Valdez and Juan Castro have done a decent job filling in for hurt players. However, when guys are called off the bench to pinch hit, like Ben Franciso, it usually doesn't end up in any sort of production. Filling in nicely, yes. Pinch hitting, not so much.

Three Phillies Named All Stars

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Three Phillies were named to the 2010 All Star team. Chase Utley, Roy Halladay and Ryan Howard will represent the National League in Los Angeles in next week's annual All Star Game.

Fans voted Chase Utley to be the starting second baseman. Unfortunately, Atlanta's Martin Prado replaced Utley due to his recent injury. This would have been Utley's fifth straight year starting the All Star Game. Utley was batting .277 with 11 home runs before having surgery on his thumb.

Roy Halladay will be making his seventh All Star appearance. Halladay currently leads the Major Leagues in innings pitched (130 IP). He is 9-7, although most of those losses are due to a lack of run support. Halladay has a 2.42 earned run average and 1.10 WHIP. There is a chance that Halladay could start the All Star game, but Josh Johnson and Ubaldo Jiminez are also strong possible candidates.

Ryan Howard was named a National League reserve. Charlie Manuel gave the edge to his own player, as Howard was chosen over the likes of Joey Votto (Votto can still make the roster via the "Final Vote"). This will be Howard's third All Star Game. Howard, who won the 2006 Home Run Derby, will not participate in this year's contest. Howard currently has 15 home runs and a .297 average.

There is still a very, very slight chance that Jayson Werth makes the roster. Werth was a late addition to last year's All Star roster, and could be again if Jason Heyward is not ready to return from his injury. The chances are very slim though.

Placido Polanco led NL third basemen in the voting for quite some time, but David Wright ended up surpassing him. Polanco, who remains on the disabled list, might not have been able to play anyway.

Congratulations to the three Phillies All Stars. At the beginning of the season, we may have expected a few more, but injuries have held this team back.

Utley & Howard Help Offense Explode for Nine Runs

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The middle of the order’s struggles were a large reason why the Phillies were in a month long slump. With today’s 9-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins, the Phillies have now won three in a row. They aren’t exactly out of the skid, however they are steps closer to getting out of it. Production from the middle of the order is a big reason as to why the offense is improving. Tonight, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard led the charge.

The Phillies immediately got on the board thanks to Utley’s RBI single. Howard followed with a triple, on a ball that was misplayed by right fielder Jason Kubel. Jayson Werth added a sacrifice fly, giving the home team a 3-0 advantage.

The runs kept pouring in. Utley launched a fly ball over the right field wall, only to be followed by a Howard shot in almost the same exact spot. The back-to-back jacks put the Phillies ahead 8-0, providing plenty of breathing room for Joe Blanton.

Blanton cruised along, surrendering three runs in six innings of work. He allowed two of those runs to start the seventh inning, before being lifted. Blanton didn’t exactly dazzle, but he got the job done. He also received plenty of help from his defense, especially Utley, who made three web gems.

The first hit Blanton allowed was a triple to Kubel, however he did not put on the brakes. The third base coach waved Kubel around, trying for the inside-the-park home run. If not for a perfect relay from Shane Victorino to Utley to Carlos Ruiz, Kubel would have been safe. Instead, Utley made a perfect throw and Ruiz (who later left due to an injury) applied the tag.

Utley didn’t stop flashing the leather there. He made a barehanded grab to turn a quick double play. In addition, he made a tremendous diving stop to take a hit away. Not only did he do it with the glove, but he did it with the bat, finishing the night with four runs batted in.

Howard, who has lacked power all season, finally had a power surge. He finished 4-for-4 – all extra base hits. He homered twice, tripled, and doubled. He was a single shy of the cycle.

There was never a doubt that the Phillies would hold their lead, although it did get interesting in the ninth inning when Scott Matheison came on in relief. Matheison surrendered a few runs, but Brad Lidge sealed the deal by getting Joe Mauer to line out to end the game.

The Phillies desperately needed this win. Perhaps they can carry the momentum, put together a nice winning streak, and put their previous struggles behind.

Phillies Drop to Second Place

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With the Phillies 9-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies dropped to second place in the National League East. While the Phillies offensive struggles have been frustrating, it's not time to press the panic button -- yet.

Part of this loss can be blamed on defensive mistakes by Ross Gload and Ryan Howard. Gload, who played in place of Jayson Werth, dropped a fly ball. However, the most costly error was by Howard, who completely missed a ground ball that potentially could have been two outs. The miscues led to two unearned runs, and if not made, the outcome could have been much different.

The Phillies were held scoreless until the seventh inning. Tommy Hanson cruised along, allowing just three hits. He was lifted in the seventh inning after allowing a two-out double to Raul Ibanez. Pete Moylan came in relief and gave up three straight doubles as the Phillies were able to cut the lead in half. Unfortunately, Troy Glaus broke the game wide open at the bottom half of the inning. Glaus' three-run home run off Chad Durbin put the game in the books.

There were some positives though. Brad Lidge returned from the disabled list (Nelson Figueroa was designated for assignment) and tossed a 1-2-3 inning. His slider was impressive, as he struck out one batter. The other positive? They weren't shut out.

Today, the offensive struggles carried over defensively. There is no question that the Phillies need to snap out of this slump, but it is still very early in the season. In previous seasons, the Phillies have gone through similar woes. This series with Atlanta is key, however, and they must win if they want to get back into first place.

Blog of Note: We Should Be GM's has a few song parodies about the Phillies' offensive struggles.

Phillies, Flyers, Share Spotlight

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Tonight, at least in Philadelphia, the center of attention was not on the Phillies. Philadelphia sports fans were mainly focused on the Flyers, who miraculously came back from a 3-0 deficit in both the series and tonight’s game. The impressive comeback led to a large celebration in Philadelphia, a similar glory that the Phillies experienced over the past few years, and hopefully again this upcoming October.

The Phillies weren’t going to step aside and let the Flyers steal the spotlight. The Phillies also made highlights with their 9-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ryan Howard finally broke out of his power slump by putting the Phillies on the board with a two-run first inning home run. In the second inning, Wilson Valdez chipped in with a RBI double to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

Jamie Moyer became a victim of the the long ball in the second. Prince Fielder, Jim Edmonds, and George Kottaras each hit solo home runs to tie the game at three. Moyer finished the night after 6.1 innings. He surrendered five runs (four earned), struck out three, and walked three.

The Phillies and Flyers seemed to score simultaneously. When Howard hit his home run, the Flyers scored. When Simon Gagne scored the Flyers’ fourth and ultimately game winning goal, Raul Ibanez drove in the Phillies’ fourth run with a solo home run seconds prior.

The Phillies continued to pour on runs. Shane Victorino (3-for-5) drove in three runs with a triple and a single. In the ninth inning, Chase Utley accidentally hit a home run on a very short and compact swing. The bullpen held the Brewers to 2.2 scoreless innings, securing the first win of the series.

Whether you are a hockey fan or not, there is no denying that what the Flyers did tonight was impressive. Their never-say-die attitude is similar to the mentality that the Phillies display. The Phillies may have been somewhat overshadowed by the Flyers’ amazing comeback tonight, but the Phillies played well tonight and have been in that situation before. Regardless, it was a great day to be a Philadelphia sports fanatic.

Halladay Tries to Stop the Bleeding vs. Giants

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The Philadelphia Phillies (11-7) face the San Francisco Giants (10-8). Roy Halladay (4-0, 0.82 ERA) starts vs. Jonathan Sanchez (1-1, 1.86 ERA)

The Phillies are coming off a frustrating loss, and hope that Roy Halladay can stop the bleeding. He's done it a few times this year. Halladay will open the series in San Francisco against Jonathan Sanchez and the Giants.

The bullpen has been shaky of late, however Halladay likes to give the bullpen a rest. Including his last few starts in Toronto, Halladay is 6-0 with 0.53 earned run average, four complete games, and three shutouts in his last six starts. The Giants have scored a few runs off Halladay thus far, but Halladay has proven that he can settle down and pitch a gem.

Ryan Howard is fresh off his 5-year, $125 million contract, and would like to show fans why he's worth that amount. Howard has faced Sanchez 12 times in his career, collecting a .250 average against him.

Overall, Sanchez is starting the year off on the right foot. He's been collecting strikeouts right and left. Sanchez has a tendency to become wild though. Working the count and drawing walks will be key for the Phillies against Sanchez.

Howard's Smash Backs Moyer

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Sporting a uniform that was worn by the Phillies in the year he was born, Jamie Moyer cruised along retiring the first eight batters he faced. Moyer had a comfortable four run lead with the opposing pitcher due up, and was bound for another easy inning.

Instead, Felipe Paulino doubled and the wheels fell off. Moyer struggled to get a single out as the next eight batters reached base. Jason Michaels' and Hunter Pence's home runs tied the game. Michaels' homer was the Astros' first home run of the season. The Astros' 2010 firsts did not end there. They took their first lead of the season on a sharp ground ball that was mishandled by Placido Polanco.

You could go on and on about how bad that inning was for Jamie Moyer and the Phillies. But you could also go on and on about how ridiculously hot the Phillies offense is right now. They're only averaging 8.2 runs per game.

The Phillies played a little small ball to score the first four runs. The fact that the Phillies aren't relying on the home run ball is an excellent sign. They are drawing walks, getting on base any way they can, and bringing those runners home to score.

But it's always nice to hit the long ball. Trailing 5-4, Ryan Howard provided the smash. Howard cranked a two-run homer off the concrete wall in deep left-center field. The Phillies took a 6-5 lead, and did not look back.

Jayson Werth went 3-for-4 with 3 runs batted in. Shane Victorino joined the fun with a RBI single and a ninth inning home run. Victorino hit into tough luck all week, but finally found a hole.

Moyer settled in after a rough third inning, and was able to make it through six. He earned the win in the Phillies 9-6 victory over the Houston Astros. It will be a battle of the Roy's (Halladay-Oswalt) tomorrow as the the Phillies go for the sweep against the win-less Astros.

Blanton Changes Grip, but Struggles

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The Phillies did not win on Saturday. Nor did they lose. After ten innings, the Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates called it a tie, with the game knotted at three.

Joe Blanton made his spring debut, and allowed three first inning runs. In his two innings of work, he surrendered five hits, three for extra bases. Blanton explained that he is working on a new grip for his sinker since he was uncomfortable with the previous grip.

Danys Baez made an impressive Phillies spring debut. He allowed one hit and struck out two in two scoreless innings.

Also, Domonic Brown continues to impress this spring. He went 2-for-3 against the Pirates. On the other hand, Ryan Howard remains hitless. Howard is trying to work on hitting breaking balls, but he has struck out four times in five at-bats.

Year In Review: Howard's NLDS Sac Fly

Swing and a Long Drive will be looking at some of 2009's top moments. We had a similar "Year in Review" last year, but instead of month-by-month, we'll look at some of the top games. They are also a part of Phillies Nation's Top 25 Moments of 2009.

The third game of the National League Division Series was truly one for the ages. It had to wait an extra day due to snow, but for four hours and six minutes, the Phillies and the Rockies see-sawed in one of the most well played games of the postseason.

Chase Utley opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning. The Rockies answered back off J.A Happ, who couldn't seem to find a rhythm. It wasn't often Happ struggled, but the frigid temperatures got to Happ. He lasted only three innings, surrendering three runs.

The Phillies finally got to Jason Hammel in the fourth. Howard stroked a RBI single, Raul Ibanez drew a bases loaded walk, and Carlos Ruiz slapped a single to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead. After Carlos Gonzalez tied the game with a home run (he gave the Phillies plenty of trouble during the NLDS), Chooch delivered again to continue his unbelievable postseason hitting. But again, the Rockies tied it.

In the ninth inning, Chase Utley checked his swing, and the baseball bounced off his foot. However, the umpires missed the call (like they did so many times during the postseason), and a hustling Utley was ruled safe at first. Ryan Howard followed with a deep sacrifice fly that scored Jimmy Rollins from third. The Phillies took a 6-5 lead, and Brad Lidge completed the save despite allowing a couple base runners.

It is notable that Game 3 was the coldest game in playoff history, and it wasn't over until 2:14 AM Eastern time. The Phillies took a 2-1 series lead, and Philadelphia fans could finally get some sleep -- but it was worth the late night.

Other Top Moments: The Phillies had some exciting moments against the New York Mets. One includes Chase Utley's game winning home run into "Utley's Corner." Another is Raul Ibanez's tenth inning home run. Pelota, no regressa!

Year In Review: Howard & Ibanez Slam Past Nats

Swing and a Long Drive will be looking at some of 2009's top moments. We had a similar "Year in Review" last year, but instead of month-by-month, we'll look at some of the top games. They are also a part of Phillies Nation's Top 25 Moments of 2009.

The Phillies had their share of grand slams in 2009; a major league leading eleven of them to be exact. Grand slams are not classified as rare, but they aren't seen on a daily basis. Two grand slams in one game, however, may be a little rare. After all it happened four times in franchise history: 1921, 1997, 2003, and April 27, 2009.

April was a rough month for Joe Blanton, and he continued his struggles in this game: 4.1 IP, six runs, eight hits and three walks. The Phillies found themselves trailing 6-2 in the fifth, but Ryan Howard's salami to straight away center field tied it up.

The Nationals were homer-happy themselves. Ryan Zimmerman homered twice, Elijah Dukes hit a monster shot, and Nick Johnson broke the seventh inning tie with a two-run home run. It started to look like it got out of hand for the Phils, who trailed 11-7. But if there was one thing learned about the 2009 team, it was to never give up on them.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Phillies were able to inch closer and load the bases for Raul Ibanez. "I knew I hit it far and I was just hoping it wouldn't hook out. I was trying to go short with my swing and drive in the runner from second base," Ibanez said. He did that and more. Ibanez smashed a grand slam which ultimately won the game.

The slug fest was one for ages, and just another showcase of the comeback kids.

Other Top Moments: J.A Happ’s complete game shutouts. Happ shut out the Toronto Blue Jays, 10-0. Jayson Werth hit two monster home runs. Happ threw another gem against the Rockies and won 7-0. Also, Cole Hamels threw a complete game shutout against the San Francisco Giants.

The Games That Got Us Here

As seen on Phillies Nation.

They’re back for seconds! The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League pennant, and are headed to the World Series for the second consecutive year. Their opponent will be the New York Yankees, the winningest team in sports history.

The Phillies finished their roller coaster season with 93 wins, but their never-say-die attitude in the playoffs has made for the most memorable postseason in franchise history.

The Phillies kicked off the postseason by beating the Colorado Rockies in four games during the National League Division Series. Cliff Lee’s nine superb innings set the tone for the playoffs. The Phillies took the first game, 5-1, but it was not the most exciting highlight of the series.

Colorado snow postponed the third game of the series, but at 2:14 a.m on a Monday morning, the Phillies took a 2-1 series lead in a game for the ages. Tied at five in the ninth inning, Ryan Howard hit a sacrifice fly to give the Phillies a 6-5 lead. It wasn’t Howard’s biggest moment of the series.

“Just get me to the plate, boys,” Howard said to his teammates, who were trailing 4-2 with two outs in the ninth. It appeared as if the Rockies tied the series, but two runners reached base to keep the Phillies’ hopes alive. Howard didn’t disappoint, smashing a game-tying double. Jayson Werth followed with a run batted in. Brad Lidge closed the doors to send the Phillies to the National League Championship Series.

The series against the Los Angeles Dodgers was filled with Carlos Ruiz clutch hits, Chase Utley throwing errors, another stellar performance from Lee, poor outings from Cole Hamels, and an 11-0 blowout. In addition, Howard tied Lou Gehrig’s eight game postseason RBI record. However, Howard, the NLCS MVP, didn’t get the biggest hit.

Once again, the Phillies were down to their last out, with a familiar nemesis on the mound: Jonathan Broxton. In game four of the 2008 NLCS, Matt Stairs famously hit a game-winning home run off Broxton. This time around, Broxton didn’t want any part of Stairs, and walked him. It proved to be costly for L.A, because Jimmy Rollins delivered with the biggest hit of his career. The Phillies stunned the Dodgers by winning, 5-4. Rollins’ game four walk-off made for one of the most unbelievable endings in postseason history.

A day later, the Phillies clinched the pennant. For the first time in franchise history, the Phillies won back-to-back National League championships. They can make more history by giving us another parade.

Phillies Win the Pennant!

This doesn't get old! For the first time in franchise history, the Phillies win back-to-back National League pennants. The Phillies 10-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers sends them back to the World Series!

Andre Eithier's solo home run put the Dodgers on the board, but Jayson Werth's three-run shot changed the entire atmosphere. Werth, who smacked two home runs, tipped his cap and raised his arms to the fired up crowd. That was the attitude for the rest of the game. The Phillies took a 3-1 lead and didn't look back. Even when the Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth inning, there was never doubt that the Phillies would lose.

It wasn't a good homecoming for Vicente Padilla, who allowed six runs. The Phillies kept tacking on. Pedro Feliz and Shane Victorino each homered. Raul Ibanez added a RBI double. Victorino waited for Ronnie Belliard's fly ball to reach his glove as Carlos Ruiz and Brad Lidge rejoiced on the pitcher's mound with the rest of the team joining them.

Cole Hamels, who looked shaky in his 4.1 innings, handed over his NLCS MVP to Ryan Howard. Howard deservedly earned honors, driving in a run in eight consecutive games (which ended on Wednesday). Howard batted .333 with two home runs and eight RBI during the Championship series.

This series was amazing. Cliff Lee's eight inning shutout and Jimmy Rollins' walk-off were two of the top highlights during one of the best postseason series in franchise history. Celebrate Philadelphia, but we still need four more wins!

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Walk-off Win Stuns Dodgers

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Never doubt this team. The Phillies were down to their last out, but another clutch hit led to another stunning victory. The 5-4 win gives the Phillies a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Ryan Howard continues to sizzle. He greeted his former teammate with a 2-run first inning home run. The Big Piece tied Lou Gehrig for most consecutive postseason games with a run batted in. Howard's streak is more impressive because he did it in one year; Gehrig's was over two years. After the homer, Randy Wolf settled in and retired 14 straight.

Joe Blanton had a similar streak, retiring the first ten batters he faced. He allowed a walk to Matt Kemp, and then the wheels fell off. Two RBI singles tied the game in the fourth inning. An inning later, Kemp homered to give the Dodgers the lead. Blanton's struggles questioned why Charlie Manuel did not lift Blanton for Happ.

Blanton's line was decent: he allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings. He gave up six hits, walked two and struck out two. He was dominant until his pitches started to become flat. But Blanton wasn't the story.

Besides Howard's homer, Wolf only gave up one more run (Chase Utley's RBI single). The Phillies had plenty of chances to score, but the Dodgers' bullpen wiggled through jams. The biggest opportunity came in the eighth inning. With two on and one out, Howard struck out. The Big Piece can't always be the hero.

With two outs, a familiar face appeared on the mound: Jonathan Broxton. Broxton was able to strand the runners by getting Jayson Werth to fly out. The ninth inning was a different story -- a story that would define this Phillies ball club. With one out, Matt Stairs was called upon to pinch hit for Pedro Feliz. With game four of the 2008 NLCS fresh in mind, Broxton did not give in to Stairs. Following Stairs' walk, Carlos Ruiz was plunked.

Greg Dobbs made the second out on a soft liner. The crowd that had been silent for most of the evening had all eyes on Jimmy Rollins. And boy did he deliver. Rollins smashed Broxton's 1-1 offering into the right center field gap. Eithier chased, but Eric Bruntlett scored easily. Ruiz scored from first, sliding into home safely without a play at the plate.

Rollins was deservedly mobbed by his teammates, but the bullpen deserves some credit too. The 'pen threw three scoreless innings. Brad Lidge earned the win, striking out two batters in 2/3 of an inning.

This game will go down as one of the most unbelievable endings in postseason history. Jonathan Broxton blew game four of the National League Championship Series, and Cole Hamels will be on the mound for game five. Sound familiar? This is what October is all about.

Phillies Survive Game One With 8-6 Win

As seen on Phillies Nation.

It’s never easy. The Phillies survived an 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking a 1-0 advantage in the National League Championship Series. The pitching was shaky, but home runs by Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez proved to be the difference.

There were hopes that Cole Hamels would return to form, especially against a team that he had so much success against. However, he is a completely different pitcher than the one who posted a sub-2 earned run average during the 2008 postseason. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead on James Loney’s second inning home run. For awhile, it looked like that was all Clayton Kershaw would need. The 21-year old left-hander shut out the Phillies for four innings, but his 5.23 ERA against them this season showed that it wouldn’t last.

Carlos Ruiz showed why it’s ”Choochtober.” Ruiz is batting .348 with 10 RBI, five extra base hits, and eight walks in 18 postseason games. Ruiz’s three run home run gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead. In the same inning, Ryan Howard stroked a double down the right field line, similar to his hit during the final game of the division series. Howard’s 18 postseason runs batted in set a Phillies record. The Phillies took a 5-1 lead, but it didn’t take long for the Dodgers to strike back.

Hamels needed a “shut down inning.” He allowed a few base runners, but was close to escaping the jam. Andre Eithier grounded a dead double play ball, but Chase Utley airmailed the throw to first. The play was not fully Utley’s fault. Jimmy Rollins failed to get the ball out of his glove quickly. A run scored with Manny Ramirez due up. We all remember the troubles “Mannywood” gave the Phillies in last year’s NLCS. He had no trouble causing more problems. Manny smashed a deep fly ball to center field, stared at it for 15 minutes, then rounded the bases for a two-run home run. The lead was cut to one.

Hamels didn’t last much longer. He gave up four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings. He struck out four and walked one. He now has a 6.97 ERA this postseason.

George Sherill hadn’t allowed a home run to a left-handed batter since June 14, 2008 against Adam LaRoche. The Dodgers acquired Sherill from the Baltimore Orioles for a reason: to get out lefties. Raul Ibanez had a different plan. Ibanez’s two-run shot gave the Phillies an 8-5 lead, and a little more breathing room.

Together, Chad Durbin and J.A Happ picked up Hamels’ pieces. Happ worked through a bases loaded jam without allowing a run to cross. Chan Ho Park, who just returned from a hamstring injury, was excellent in his seventh inning relief appearance. Park retired the three batters he faced and clocked 96 mph on the radar gun. On the other hand, Ryan Madson was atrocious in the eighth inning. He was lucky he did not allow more than two runs.

The ninth inning brought on Brad Lidge. Matt Kemp greeted him with a single. When the lead-off runner reaches base against Lidge, it’s usually a bad sign. However, Casey Blake hit a sharp ground ball to Utley. Utley made a fantastic play on a short hop, and was able to turn the double play. Ronnie Belliard flied out to end the game.

Friday, Pedro Martinez will start against former Phillie Vicente Padilla. A 2-0 series lead would be nice to return to Philadelphia with. Since the League Championship Series was extended to seven games, game one winners are 28-18. 29 doesn’t sound too bad.

Phillies Stun Rockies, Clinch NLDS

Take a deep breath Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Phillies clinched the National League Division Series with their 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Just when all life was sucked out, the Phillies dramatically rallied in the ninth inning.

Cliff Lee was spectacular. In 7.1 innings, Lee allowed three runs (1 earned). He gave up five hits, walked three, and struck out five. However, his dominant performance diminished when Ryan Madson came into relieve in the eighth.

Shane Victorino statred the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning. Jayson Werth's home run in the sixth inning made it 2-0. Troy Tulowitzki cut the lead in half with a RBI double against Lee in the bottom half of the sixth.

Lee started the eighth inning, but was replaced by Ryan Madson after the circus came to town. Dexter Fowler reached with a walk. Todd Helton hit a soft grounder to Chase Utley. Utley reached out to tag Fowler, who went airborne, leaping over Utley. Utley flipped to Rollins at second, but he missed the catch. Everybody was safe, and Madson entered with one out as part of a key double switch. Ben Francisco entered the game for Raul Ibanez. Francisco made a terrific diving catch, robbing Tulowitzski.

With two outs, Madson could see his way out of the inning. How quickly a stellar performance from Lee and an amazing catch were erased. Jason Giambi's RBI single tied the game.

Yorvit Torrealba caused the Phillies a lot of trouble, homering off Cole Hamels earlier in the series. He struck again, ripping the hearts out of Philadelphia fans all across the country with a two-run, go-ahead double.

The game was over. Get ready for game five. The Phillies stranding the bases loaded twice proved to be costly. The offense didn't show up against Ubaldo Jiminez. Why didn't Charlie Manuel keep Lee in? Not so fast. The Phillies led the league in come from behind wins in 2009. Once again, they showed their resilience.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Utley drew a walk against closer Huston Street. Then, Ryan Howard clobbered Street's 2-1 offering over the head of Carlos Gonzalez. Victorino rounded third, but missed the bag. He went back to tag, with Utley on his heels. Victorino and Utley scored, tying the game at four. Werth followed with a RBI single, giving the Phillies a 5-4 lead.

It was not Brad Lidge who started the ninth, but Scott Eyre. Eyre rolled his ankle on Sunday night, but that did not stop him from getting two quick outs. He allowed two runners, and it was up to Lidge to seal the deal. He did. Tulowitzski chased a nasty slider to end the game.

This game, and this entire series, will go down in the books as one of the greatest in Phillies franchise history. The Rockies played the Phillies tough, but luckily the Phillies finished on top. Los Angeles Dodgers, we'll meet again on Thursday.

As seen on Phillies Nation.