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.