Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Phillies Complete Playoff Picture

Players of the Day for Monday, October 12, 2009 American League There were no AL games on Monday. A preview of the ALCS between the NY Yankees and LA Angels will be posted on Wednesday. The series begins Friday in New York. National League Philadelphia Phillies 5 Colorado Rockies 4 Just when it looked like the Rockies and Phillies would be heading back to Philadelphia for Game 5, the top of the Phillies batting order changed everything, propelling the Phillies to their second straight NLCS, in which they will face the LA Dodgers beginning Thursday, October 15, in Los Angeles. Starters Ubaldo Jimenez and Cliff Lee staged an impressive pitcher's duel through the first seven innings, with the Phillies ahead 2-1 on solo homers by Shane Victorino (1st inning) and Jayson Werth (5th). The Rockies came through in the 7th after a throwing error - charged to Jimmy Rollins - by Chase Utley, allowed Dexter Fowler to reach second base safely on a dribbler by Todd Helton. Lee was replaced by Ryan Madsen, who induced a fly ball out from Troy Tulowitzki. Jason Giambi followed with an RBI single, and Yorvit Torrealba doubled both Helton and Giambi home with a doubled to the right center gap. All of a sudden, the Rockies led, 4-2. The Phillies, however, were far from done. The team that led the league in come-from-behind victories during the regular season got going on a ground single by Jimmy Rollins with one in in the ninth off closer Huston Street. Rollins was forced out at second on Victorino's fielder's choice, but then, with two outs, Street couldn't close out Chase Utley, walking him to put runners on first and second. Ryan Howard, the Phillies best RBI man, laced a Street offering off the wall in right field, sending both runners scampering home, tying the score. With Howard on 2nd, Werth dropped a soft liner into shallow right center, and Howard arrived with the winning run. The Rockies responded in the 9th, putting runners on 1st and 2nd off Scott Eyre, but Brad Lidge came on to get Troy Tulowitzki on a swinging thrid strike to end the game and the series, with the Phillies taking 3 of 4. Philadelphia will head to Los Angeles for the start of the seven-game NLCS, beginning Thursday. Baseball on Deck will post a series breakdown later today.

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