The Phillies were in danger of squandering a 5-2 lead they’d built in the eight inning, thanks to 4 runs scored off the Cardinals’ bullpen. Pujols was on deck. The bases were loaded, after a Brad Lidge inside pitch plunked Cesar Izturis on the arm.

Lidge had already surrendered three hits, including a shot off the foul pole courtesy of Troy Glaus to bring St. Louis within one run of tying the game. And I had just finished consuming a Wawa Italian hoagie with questionable lettuce content.

Add up all the factors, and you get this happening in Chamomiles Davis’ lower abdomen:

Then Lidge strikes out Stavrinoha and Mather (neither of whom had ever faced him) to end the game, so no need for panic. B-Lid remains perfect in save opportunities and the Phillies took 2 of 3 from the Cardinals in St. Louis. But still I had a brief flashback to that 2005 NLCS game, when this happened:

You know it better, thanks to the national media, as The Home Run That Is Supposed To Have Shattered Brad Lidge’s Confidence Forever And Ever And Ever Amen. By the way, Pujols went 0-10 in this series. Whose confidence is shattered now, I wonder?

Busy Lidge Hangs On For Save Against Cardinals [Paul Hagen, Philadelphia Daily News]

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