Brett Myers is not exactly feared for his bat.
In fact, you might say that, given his last couple of outings, it was his right arm that was giving more people the chills. Unfortunately, those were Phillies fans, who watched him revert to the early-season troubles that resulted in him being demoted to a stint in the minors.
Last night, in the crucible of the National League Division Series, Myers survived a shaky first inning and went on to tame the Brewers. Along the way, the Phils posted a 5-2 win to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series.
But it was Myers’ bat, or at least an at-bat, that might have been the key to the game.
The not-exactly-mighty Myers stepped in against Brewers’ ace CC Sabathia in the second inning with a man on base. He immediately started swinging for the fences. Two massive whiffs later, he was in an 0-2 hole.
Then something weird happened. Or maybe it’s an omen. Myers took what certainly looked like strike three. But the home plate umpire didn’t see it that way. He called it a ball. It seemed to rattle Sabathia, who was already heading for the dugout. That’s when things got even curiouser. Myers started fouling off pitches. Eventually he worked the count full. At this point all you could think of was Burt Hooton and one of those moments that’s burned into the consciousness of Phillies’ fans. Hooton literally got booed off the mound at Veterans Stadium in the late ‘70s against the Dodgers. The Phils eventually coughed up that game on Black Friday. But the murmurs of Hooton were back last night at Citizens Bank Park with every pitch Myers fouled off as the crowd roared and waved those white rally towels.
A rattled Sabathia finally issued ball four. Then he walked Jimmy Rollins to load the bases. Next batter? Shane Victorino. You know what happened next. The ‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’ hammered a pitch down the line into the left-field bleachers for a grand slam. It was a stake in Sabathia’s heart, and maybe a fatal blow to the Brewers.
The Phils now head to Milwaukee in the exact opposite position they found themselves last year. After losing two games at home to the Rockies, the Phils went to Colorado down 2-0 and facing elimination. They went meekly in three.
Not this year. Now it’s the Brewers on the ropes.
The Phils have their foot on Milwaukee’s throat. They will send ageless wonder Jamie Moyer to the mound Saturday night to finish the job.
I like their chances.
It was a big night for Myers, who after that shaky start managed to wipe away the fears linked to his last two outings.
He and Hamels give the Phils a nasty 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation.
They can wrap this up Saturday night, and spare Eagles fans the bother of having to deal with both the Birds and Phillies sharing the stage on Sunday.
In fact, you might say that, given his last couple of outings, it was his right arm that was giving more people the chills. Unfortunately, those were Phillies fans, who watched him revert to the early-season troubles that resulted in him being demoted to a stint in the minors.
Last night, in the crucible of the National League Division Series, Myers survived a shaky first inning and went on to tame the Brewers. Along the way, the Phils posted a 5-2 win to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series.
But it was Myers’ bat, or at least an at-bat, that might have been the key to the game.
The not-exactly-mighty Myers stepped in against Brewers’ ace CC Sabathia in the second inning with a man on base. He immediately started swinging for the fences. Two massive whiffs later, he was in an 0-2 hole.
Then something weird happened. Or maybe it’s an omen. Myers took what certainly looked like strike three. But the home plate umpire didn’t see it that way. He called it a ball. It seemed to rattle Sabathia, who was already heading for the dugout. That’s when things got even curiouser. Myers started fouling off pitches. Eventually he worked the count full. At this point all you could think of was Burt Hooton and one of those moments that’s burned into the consciousness of Phillies’ fans. Hooton literally got booed off the mound at Veterans Stadium in the late ‘70s against the Dodgers. The Phils eventually coughed up that game on Black Friday. But the murmurs of Hooton were back last night at Citizens Bank Park with every pitch Myers fouled off as the crowd roared and waved those white rally towels.
A rattled Sabathia finally issued ball four. Then he walked Jimmy Rollins to load the bases. Next batter? Shane Victorino. You know what happened next. The ‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’ hammered a pitch down the line into the left-field bleachers for a grand slam. It was a stake in Sabathia’s heart, and maybe a fatal blow to the Brewers.
The Phils now head to Milwaukee in the exact opposite position they found themselves last year. After losing two games at home to the Rockies, the Phils went to Colorado down 2-0 and facing elimination. They went meekly in three.
Not this year. Now it’s the Brewers on the ropes.
The Phils have their foot on Milwaukee’s throat. They will send ageless wonder Jamie Moyer to the mound Saturday night to finish the job.
I like their chances.
It was a big night for Myers, who after that shaky start managed to wipe away the fears linked to his last two outings.
He and Hamels give the Phils a nasty 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation.
They can wrap this up Saturday night, and spare Eagles fans the bother of having to deal with both the Birds and Phillies sharing the stage on Sunday.
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