The New Big Red Machine

Back in the ‘70s the Cincinnati Reds were known as the Big Red Machine.

Sunday night, they were summarily dispatched from the post-season by the New Big Red Machine.

The Phillies did something Sunday night they had not done in the history of the franchise, sweep a post-season series.

And this one was not that close.

Behind a second dominating pitching performance, this one from Cole Hamels, who threw a complete game shutout, the Phils won, 2-0. Even though their bats continue to be sporadic at best, there is no arguing with the deadly weapons that take the hill these days for the Phils.

All Roy Halladay did was fire a no-hitter last Wednesday. Last night Hamels was almost as dominating, baffling the Reds on just five hits.

The Reds were shut out in two of the three games vs. the Phillies.

The biggest challenge the Phils face now is staying sharp. They will not play again until Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. Their opponent remains up in the air as well. The Giants could eliminate the Braves tonight in Atlanta.

In the meantime, the Phils will rest their big three H2O killer combo of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels.

Right now the Phils are a pitching juggernaut.

Look out if their offense ever wakes up.

It’s enough to make you forget Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick.

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