Staff Blog
About Last Night … October 2nd
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It’s been oft repeated that every playoff run needs a few ‘no way in hell’ moments, the moments that you look back on and remember where you were sitting, and how it all unfolded. Obviously, Myers at the bat followed by Shane Victorino turning himself into a legend is going go down as one of those.
What is less talked about is the fact that every playoff run needs many, many more moments that no one remembers, moments like Lights Outs settling down for a quick 1-2-3, or at bats like the rest of the Phils’ outs. Myers drew 19 pitches, but the rest of the team worked Sabathia up to 98. For the second night in a row the Phillies took a team approach to the plate, and for the second night in a row they worked into a Brewers bullpen and kept their pitchers fresh.
The Game: You’ve read about Myers, you’ve read about Shane and you’ve read about Sabathia, so I’ll just give this: Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Pat Burrell combined to go 0-10 (they did each draw a walk) and the Phillies still won. Both of those things can’t continue – I’m betting it is the 0for.
Zolecki’s recap HERE, Murphy’s HERE, Mandel’s HERE, Miller’s HERE, Milwaukee’s HERE, and the AP’s is HERE, with video.
The Heroes: The Rock Star went 7 and gave up just two hits. Shane Victorinio brought four home with one swing off a 1-2 count with two outs.
The Race: On one hand the Phillies have their boot nearing the Brewers’ throats. On the other, all they did was hold home field. Game three is Saturday night in Milwaukee.
Other Notes …
- The Werth/Victorino swap couldn’t have worked better. Both played great, both kept pressure on the
Brewers with their legs (both stole third) and both were at the plate at the
right time - Myers was unreal at bat. He was like Ricky Henderson up there.
- Chase Utley,
Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell are a combined 1-17. They have drawn 7 walks. - The Phillies have scored in just two of the 16 innings in which
they have batted. - Charlie
Manuel moved Shane up to the second spot because remembered Victorino homering twice off
Arizona’s
Randy Johnson, also a big lefty who throws hard, back in July. - The Brewers overcame an 0-2 deficit to beat the California Angels
in the 1982 ALCS
Hey, how about “Hat Boy”, down the first base line, snagging that line drive in his cap? He actually handled his moment of fame well, looking surprised, then celebrating, instead of mugging like a jerk (which is all too often the pose following a foul ball retrieval …)
Was that the same kid got a ground ball later?
Yeah, it definitely was. He was much more subdued the 2nd time around. If that kid didn’t play the Powerball and immediately go home and call the girl he’s always been wanting to ask out, he’s crazy.