Lee pitches gem, Phils take game 1

Just about every expert gave the Phillies no chance to win the World Series over the New York Yankees.


Cliff Lee has the Phillies one step closer to proving the so-called experts wrong.

Lee was brilliant tonight, throwing a complete game and only allowing one run (un-earned).

Chase Utley had two solo home runs and Raul Ibanez had a huge two-run single in the eighth inning. The Phillies added two more runs in the ninth.

Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, who had pretty much been untouchable this post season, pitched well but was out-dueld by his former teammate. Lee allowed six hits in his first World Series start.

Lee was calm, cool, and collected all night. He non-chelantly caught a pop-up on the mound and had a great behind-the-back stop on a ground ball later in the game.

The Phillies have quickly taken home field advantage and could take a huge advantage in the series with a win tomorrow night.

How about a Re-Phil

Is this really happening?

A lifetime of suffering and the Phillies are headed to the World Series for the second straight year!

The Phillies are National League champions again.

Two years in a row. Wow.

Phils win absolute thriller

Every time I doubt this team they do something that absolutely amazes me.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and trailing 4-3, Jimmy Rollins crushed a double to the right field gap, scoring two runs to give the Phillies a 3-1 series lead.

My heart is racing.

Unbelievable!

An enjoyable night for Phillies

Finally, a night I can watch a Phillies playoff game and relax.

The Phillies jumped out to a quick lead and got a brilliant pitching performance from Cliff Lee, taking a 2-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.

In a big momentum game, the Phils scored 4 runs in the first inning on a Ryan Howard triple and two-run home run by Jayson Werth.

Quickly, the stress and worry that came along with games 1 and 2 settled down.

The Phillies scored two more in the second, two in the fifth, and three in the eighth.

With Lee on the mound, things looked really good early. He only allowed three hits in eight innings, all singles.

The Phillies fans were pumped from the beginning and the possibility of winning the series at home still exists if they can win the next two games.

Despite losing game 2, the Phillies have dominated the Dodgers this series and can take a demanding series lead with a win tomorrow night.

But that's tomorrow and I'll enjoy the big win tonight. And the relaxation that came along with it.

For one night at least, it was not a stressful evening watching the Phillies.

Rocky road leads Phils to NLCS

Holy cow, I can hardly breath. And this was just the first round.

The Philadelphia Phillies are headed back to the NLCS for the second straight season after an intense, exciting 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies.

Emotions were high and swung back and forth.

Leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, the Rockies exploded for three runs. It looked like the Phillies might get out of the jam after left fielder Ben Francisco made a spectacular diving catch. But a single by Jason Giambi and double by Yorvit Torrealba but the Rockies up by two.

Back to Philadelphia for game five, right?

Not so fast.

After pinch hitter Greg Dobbs stuck out to lead off the ninth, Jimmy Rollins singled but was forced out at second on a fielders choice by Shane Victorino. Chase Utley drew a walk, Ryan Howard followed with a two-strike bullet off the right field wall to tie the game. Jayson Werth followed with a single to right to score Howard and put the Phillies ahead.

In a surprise move, Charlie Manuel went with Scott Eyre in the ninth. The Rockies got two on and Manuel brought Brad Lidge in to close out the game. Lidge got Troy Tulowitzki to end the game and series (3-1 Phillies).

Who would have thought Lidge, who struggled all season and was not even the definitive closer entering the playoffs, would have two saves.

What a game, what a series.

Bring on the Dodgers.

Intensity for Phils is back

It's good to remember what a playoff win is like.

After experiencing the highest of intensity situations last season on their way to a World Championship, regular season wins became even less intense.

As 2:37 approached today, I started feeling the knot in my stomach. My hands started to get a little sweaty. Playoff baseball was finally here again.

Because I was at work, I had to follow most of the game on-line. Even that was intense. I made it home for the last 2 1/2 innings. Watching Cliff Lee close out the game with a strikeout, I pumped my fist and yelled the trademark, "YES!!."

I love it.

One win down, 10 to go.