The front page of our print edition pretty much sums things up this morning.
One down, three to go.
How are your fingernails this morning? Have any left? Never in doubt, right?
The Phillies pushed us one step closer to sports nirvana last night, edging the Rays, 3-2, in Game 1 of the World Series.
This one went pretty much according to the script. Another strong outing from Cole Hamels, who is looking more and more like the second coming of Steve Carlton, and a long ball from Chase Utley.
The second baseman got the Phils off to the perfect start in the first inning by depositing a Scott Kazmir pitch in the right-field seats to give the Phils a 2-0 lead and quiet all those cowbell-ringing fans inside the seriously quirky Tropicana Field.
Hamels took it from there, pitching a strong seven innings, giving up just two runs on five hits while striking out five.
You might say this one went according to the script. Hamels, the MVP of the NLCS, dominated for seven innings. He then handed the ball to Ryan Madson, who quickly is perfecting his setup role as the “Bridge to Lidge.” He pitched a perfect eighth and then gave way to lights-out closer Brad Lidge. Nothing new here. Lidge did what he has done all season, slamming the door in a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the deal.
There was one other unfortunate similarity to the Phils’ win. Their penchant for “untimely” hitting continued last night. They left 11 runners on base, many of them in scoring position. This game should not have been close. Hamels should have been on cruise control. But time after time, the Phils failed to deliver the killer punch, especially with runners on base.
Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell combined for an 0-for-7. Both had opportunities to deliver big blows, but flailed instead. Jimmy Rollins did not exactly set the table. He went 0-for-5.
But none of that matters now. The only thing that does is that the Phils went one up in the World Series.
Three to go. Brett Myers takes the mound tonight as the Phils will look to take a stranglehold in the series.
How fast do you think they can get Hamels back on the hill?
One down, three to go.
How are your fingernails this morning? Have any left? Never in doubt, right?
The Phillies pushed us one step closer to sports nirvana last night, edging the Rays, 3-2, in Game 1 of the World Series.
This one went pretty much according to the script. Another strong outing from Cole Hamels, who is looking more and more like the second coming of Steve Carlton, and a long ball from Chase Utley.
The second baseman got the Phils off to the perfect start in the first inning by depositing a Scott Kazmir pitch in the right-field seats to give the Phils a 2-0 lead and quiet all those cowbell-ringing fans inside the seriously quirky Tropicana Field.
Hamels took it from there, pitching a strong seven innings, giving up just two runs on five hits while striking out five.
You might say this one went according to the script. Hamels, the MVP of the NLCS, dominated for seven innings. He then handed the ball to Ryan Madson, who quickly is perfecting his setup role as the “Bridge to Lidge.” He pitched a perfect eighth and then gave way to lights-out closer Brad Lidge. Nothing new here. Lidge did what he has done all season, slamming the door in a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the deal.
There was one other unfortunate similarity to the Phils’ win. Their penchant for “untimely” hitting continued last night. They left 11 runners on base, many of them in scoring position. This game should not have been close. Hamels should have been on cruise control. But time after time, the Phils failed to deliver the killer punch, especially with runners on base.
Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell combined for an 0-for-7. Both had opportunities to deliver big blows, but flailed instead. Jimmy Rollins did not exactly set the table. He went 0-for-5.
But none of that matters now. The only thing that does is that the Phils went one up in the World Series.
Three to go. Brett Myers takes the mound tonight as the Phils will look to take a stranglehold in the series.
How fast do you think they can get Hamels back on the hill?
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