Ryan Madson got Pat Burrell to fly out and Cody Ross to strikeout (!!!!) before Edgar Renteria grounded out to Jimmy to end it. He let two runners on, but with a five run pad there was not much worry.
Game ball goes to Roy Oswalt. He pitched so well tonight, the only black mark being a mistake pitch (x3) to Cody Ross. Striking out nine over eight in addition to a huge base hit that started the game-ending rally, Roy “Lloyd Christmas” redeemed himself for the NLDS game two. And everybody gets to sing “High Hopes” and go home with their marriages and children still in tact.
Carlos Ruiz played his first bad game in about a millennium, but he is forgiven because he called a heckuva game behind the plate. Raul Ibanez should’ve sat today. Why he didn’t is a mystery to me because Ben Francisco is an able right-handed bat that hits Jonathan Sanchez well. Get him into the game for defensive and baserunning purposes by the seventh from now on.
If this game propels Jimmy and Shane to performing this way the rest of the series, the future is bright over the next few games. Ryan Howard also logged a few great at-bats against the left-handed Sanchez. Polanco did what he does. This was a very Phillies game. A few more of these and we’ll be on our way to the next level.
It’s not terrible going back to San Francisco tied 1-1. Winning the next game will be just as huge because they’ll need to take two of three at AT&T Park to come home comfortable. The Phillies are a capable road team and there’s tons of East Coast transplants in San Fran to cheer on the boys in red. I’m excited to see Cole on Tuesday. Matt Cain goes for the Giants.
Series tied at one. Good win, boys.