Hamels, Utley Lead Phillies to 3-2 Game 1 Win

Players of the Day from Wednesday, October 22, 2008 World Series Game 1: Phillies 3 Rays 2 Cole Hamels (L) pitched 7 strong innings, and Chase Utley (R) socked a 2-run, first inning home run to enable the Philadelphia Phillies to take Game 1 of the 2008 World Series by a 3-2 score over the Tampa Bay Rays. Hamels, now 4-0 in the postseason, allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out 5. After Utley staked him to a 2-0 lead, and catcher Carlos Ruiz grounded out in the 4th inning, scoring Shane Victorino, Hamels gave up a solo homer to Carl Crawford in the bottom of the 4th and surrendered another run on Akinori Iwamura's double in the fifth which plated Jason Bartlett. But that was all the Rays could muster as Hamels held Tampa Bay hitless through the sixth and seventh before giving way to Ryan Madson, who pitched a perfect 8th inning. Brad Lidge struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in the 9th, ending the game on a Crawford popup outside the third base foul line. With the Game 1 victory in hand, the Phillies will try to take game 2 with Brett Myers on the mound, facing the Rays' James Shields. Game time is set for 8:29 pm EDT. Notes: The Phillies stranded 11, and were 0-11 with runners in scoring position. Much of the problem starts and ends with the plate troubles of Ryan Howard, who led the majors in home runs and RBI in the regular season, but seems more confused with every at-bat. Howard has just 3 RBI in 10 post-season games. He was 0-for-4 in Game 1. Free Tacos: Jason Bartlett stole second base to ensure that everyone in America would be eligible for a free taco on Tuesday, October 28, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 local time at any Taco Bell location. After Bartlett swiped his bag, Utley stole two and Jayson Werth stole another for the Phillies.