On the last day of September in 2007, the Phillies were one win, and a New York Mets loss, away from reaching the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. As the Mets proceeded to lose the game in the top of the first inning, the Phils turned to Jamie Moyer, the veteran, soft-tossing lefty to push the season back a few more days. Moyer, despite having a less-than-great season, turned in a solid performance – 5.1 IP, 1 R (0 ER), with 6 Ks. The offense took care of the rest, leading the charge to a 6-1 win over the Washington Nationals en route to the N.L. East title.
In 2008, it seemed history was destined to repeat itself. One day after the Phils took a two game lead in the division, they were staring straight into the eyes of their second straight postseason berth, needing only a win or a Mets loss to claim the N.L. East in 2008.
Once again they turned to Jamie Moyer, the team leader in wins, to carry the torch down the final stretch. He cruised in his start, going six strong innings while allowing just one run. He exited the game with a 3-1 lead, looking to get this 16th victory of the season.
The offense started off slow and didn’t put anything on the board until the 4th, where a pair of sacrifice flies from Pat Burrell and Carlos Ruiz gave the Phils a 2-0 lead. Although Moyer would give a run back in the top of the 5th, Jayson Werth would return fire with a line drive shot to right field in the bottom half of the inning.
Chad Durbin worked a scoreless 7th, turning it over to Ryan Madson, who was quickly becoming one of the most dominant setup men in the game. The Mad Dog struggled in the 8th by putting baserunners on second and third with no outs. But due to a great defensive play by Jimmy Rollins, he was able to escape with the lead intact, as the Nats were only able to plate one run in the frame.
After adding a huge insurance run in the bottom of the 8th to take a 2-run lead, the Phillies turned to Brad Lidge, who was a perfect 40-for-40 in save opportunities thus far in the season. After striking out the leadoff hitter, Lidge started to struggle, allowing a base hit and a walk to put runners on first and second. Following two straight base hits, the Nats had inched within one run, with the bases loaded an only one man out. With his perfect season and the Phillies’ playoff hopes riding on the line, Brad Lidge delivered one more pitch…
Player of the Game: Jimmy Rollins – who made two great plays in the late innings to preserve the lead. His over-the-shoulder grab in the 8th, followed by his diving double play starter in the ninth saved the game for the Fightins.
But why was this game key to 2008? I’ll let you figure that one out.
12 Comments on “Top 11 Games of the 2008 Regular Season: Number 1”
Leave a Comment
Phila-Centric
- 700 Level
- Balls, Sticks & Stuff
- Beerleaguer
- Big Five Post
- Crane Kick Chronicles
- Crashburn Alley
- Finger Food
- Fire Eric Bruntlett
- Four Days Rest
- High Cheese
- High Hopes
- House That Glanville Built
- I want to go to the zoo with Roy Halladay
- In Ruben We Trust
- Long Drive
- Macho Row
- Maule of America
- Nittanydelphia
- Okayplayer
- On The DL
- On The Edge
- Phightin’ Phils Phorum
- Philadelphia Will Do
- Philebrity
- Philled In
- Philliesflow
- Philly Gameday
- Philly Gossip
- Philly Skyline
- Phils-ville
- Phinally Philly
- Phoul Ballz
- Swing and a Long Drive
- The Good Phight
- The Insider
- The Shibe Times
- The Zo Zone
- We're the Team to Beat
- Whiz Witout
- Who Does He Play For?
- WSBGM’s
General
March 31st, 2009 at 10:06 am
Tune in tonight March 31st from 7 to 9 on WIFI 1460 AM the first Father And Son Philly Sports Talk Show will take place every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 we will be talking all things philly sports. Old school vs New School. You can listen live online at
http://wifi1460am.com
Just click on LISTEN LIVE and DOWNLOAD THE PLAYER
There are 3 players to choose from. Try to download the mp3 stream winamp/iTunes player. This works the best
609-447-0236 and 609-447-0040
One of our topics will be asking everyone about there favortie moments from last years world series run
There will be some entertaining debates going on between me and my father. If you grew up in this town having great memories watching the Flyers, Sixers, Phillies, and Eagles with your Father or Son this is the show for you.
LISTEN AND CALL IN THE NUMBER IS 609-447-0236
March 31st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Pedro Feliz grabbed that insurance run to ensure a 2 run lead which eventually became the winning run. Feliz had the biggest hits in the two biggest games in 2008 including the gw hit in game 5. Hes the most underrated member of the 2008 phils, along with my man bruntlett. dobbs also rides under the radar even though hes the best pinch hitter in baseball right now. but, feliz is still the most underrated of 2008. defense, veteren prowess and timely hits. gotta love Peter Happy
March 31st, 2009 at 3:28 pm
perhaps I am nit picking, but aside from a few big hits, Feliz is a terrible hitter. He is not underrated. He is rated just fine.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Bye bye, Geoff Jenkins.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Sheff and Werth can platoon in RF. God damn, I would love that.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Sheff would not be a platoon player. He would be our RH bat off the bench.
March 31st, 2009 at 4:24 pm
You are right, but I’m not yet sold on Werth over an entire season.
March 31st, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I was watching this game at my girlfriend’s dorm and screamed bloody murder after the Rollins play (and McCarver’s god awful call), then proceeded to run down the hallway knocking on all the doors of people who I did not know. NLEFC: NL East Fucking Champions. This was so clutch.
March 31st, 2009 at 4:34 pm
gonzo i cant say hes a terrible hitter, and he definitely isnt good either. But, you may have misunderstood what i meant. I think feliz was one of the most underrated when it comes to 2008. I indicated timely hitting because im aware hes average at best over an entire season whether hes hurt or not. Hes an upgrade to what we used to toss in at 3rd base and he brings a veteran mix to a team filled with both young and old guys. A few big hits in the reg season including that extra base hit for insurance in the clincher which turned out to be important as well as the two hits in the dodgers series that tied and won the game propelling us up the ladder int he NL east. Whenever we talk about big hits in the 08 post season, pedros name never appears either. For a guy who got the game winning hit in a clinching game of the world series and never gets mentioned is an underrated member of the wfc’s.
March 31st, 2009 at 4:43 pm
will H., I agree with your comment whole-heartedly…I think gonzo was just being argumentative. We all need something to complain about, sometimes. This is the best infield we have had in too long, and the way Feliz was able to come through offensively in such key spots late last year, make him worth the acquisition.
I think he’ll have a better year in ‘09 once he recovers from his back issue – ‘08 was statistically a down year for him.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I certainly wasnt trying to be a jerk. I just think the term ‘unsung hero’ is more appropriate. Rather than underrated.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:05 am
This day was one of the coolest days I’ve ever had. I had tickets to all 3 games that weekend (Friu, Sat & Sun), and since I also had gotten Flyers tickets for the same day this game was on, I gave the Phils tickets to my Dad. So, I went down to the Flyers game and he and my little bro went down to the Bank. The Flyers game ended just as the Phils were getting underway, so I bought a ticket outsdie the stadium for $25 and made my way in to watch. I met up with my Dad and brother and we stood up under Harry the K’s bar and watched the game. That 9th inning was agonizing, and we were hanging on every pitch. When Zimmerman hit that ball, I thought “Oh, shit…he finally blew save. Why now?!”
…and the Jimmy caught it, flipped it to ChUtley and then over to Ry-Ho, and the Phils were division champs once again.
After the game was over, we made our way down to the 1st row in left field as the players were running by, and my little brother got one of Chris Coste’s batting gloves. We stayed there for a while longer, then left. Me and my brother returned the next day and watched a line-up that included Tad Iguchi, So Taguchi, Mike Cervanek, Lou Marson and Greg Golson. That was such a fun game because it was the 1st meaningless game for the Fightins in a long time, and no one really cared if someone made a bone head play or struck out or whatever, it was just pure baseball.