Embed from Getty Images World Series clinchers vary in a variety of ways. Some are snoozeful blowouts, others are one for the ages. The Phillies Game 5 victory in 2008 is one of those Games of History.
Embed from Getty Images The Phillies, at grassy Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia were looking to clinch the game on home territory. The Rays, who defeated the Boston Red Sox in 7 games in the ALCS, were on the brink of elimination, trailing 3-1 in the series. Philadelphia decided to trot out NLCS MVP Cole Hamels, with a strong lineup including 2007 MVP Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley, 2006 MVP Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Shane Victorino. Tampa Bay, while short on offense, still had standouts such as Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and a young Evan Longoria. Tampa put its hope on starter Scott Kazmir to try and force a Game 6. Senator and former Philly John Oates delivered the national anthem, and Jim Bunning threw out the first pitch for the Phillies game, which was being played in a fine mist.Embed from Getty Images
Hamels had a 1-2-3 first inning, retiring the side in order. Kazmir had a far rougher first. He walked Werth, plunked Utley and walked Pat Burrell, loading the bases for Shane Victorino with 2 outs. With a single to left, Werth and Utley motored around the bases to give Philly an early 2-0 lead. Kazmir, with runners on the corners, managed to escape further damage. In the second both Hamels and Kazmir allowed a runner with 2 outs, but nothing came out of it. The side went down in order for both teams in the third inning. In the top of the 4th, Hamels gave up a double to Carlos Pena who was then singled home by Longoria to cut the deficit to one.Embed from Getty Images
Hamels and the Phillies had a chance to blow the game open in the 4th inning. Kazmir walked Rollins and Werth, putting Cole Hamels who got on by fielder's choice on third and loading the bases. The Phillies could do nothing with this opportunity and left the inning leading 2-1. Hamels had a 1-2-3 fifth, striking out the pitcher Kazmir. Kazmir attracted more strikes when he was at the plate than on the mound that inning, walking Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell to lead off the fifth inning. Kazmir, who had already thrown 103 pitches, was removed from the game and Grant Balfour brought in. While Balfour was warming up to clean up the mess left by Kazmir, the ground crew was trying to keep the infield dry and playable on.
Embed from Getty Images Hamels’ performance was going smoothly, unlike the attempts to field the ball by his defense. Nonetheless, he got 2 quick outs before allowing an infield single to Melvin Upton as Rollins did not want to mishandled the ball on the soaked infield. With Carlos Pena at the plate, Upton took off and stole second on the first pitch. This base were to prove extremely important, as Pena singled in Upton to tie the game. A miscommunication between catcher Carlos Ruiz and Hamels allowed Pena to reach second on a passed ball, but Longoria flew out to end the inning, and the game at the moment. Embed from Getty Images
Rain was pouring in Philly, and the game was called for a delay on Monday October 27, 2008. Normally in the regular season the game would go to the Phillies, but commissioner Bud Selig ensured that the game would resume. The Rays were off, desperately hunting for a hotel. When the game would resume, the lineups would remain the same. Everyone was available except the pulled Kazmir.Embed from Getty Images
With the game resuming of Wednesday October 29, the Phillies were certainly not going to send Hamels out again, instead opting to replace him with a pinch hitter, Geoff Jenkins, who led off with a double. After a Rollins bunt that moved him to third, Jenkins scored and gave Philly a 1 run lead on a Werth single, as well as forcing Rays manager Joe Maddon to pull Balfour from the game. Werth managed to steal second, but nothing came out of it as replacement JP Howell induced a fly ball to third to end the inning.
Embed from Getty Images Ryan Madson, yes the same Ryan Madson from the 2018 World Series, was brought in to bring the Phillies closer to the championship. After getting a strikeout, he gave up the tying home run to Rocco Baldelli and a single to Jason Bartlett. After Howell sacrificed himself on a bunt, JC Romero was brought in to end the threat. With Bartlett on second, a grounder was hit up the middle to Chase Utley. Bartlett was on a mad dash for home, looking for the crucial tying run. Utley, running to left, pump faked a throw to first baseman Ryan Howard and saw Bartlett dashing home. Utley rocketed a throw across the diamond to home, with catcher Carlos Ruiz applying a tag to end the inning.Embed from Getty Images
Howell was able to get out in the top of the seventh(himself batting), but managed none in the bottom. He allowed a double to Pat Burell and was immediately pulled in favor of Chad Bradford, that of Moneyball fame. After a groundout, Pedro Feliz singled home pinch runner Eric Brunlett for a measly 1 run lead, which would prove to be the margin needed for victory. Romero managed a 1-2-3 eighth, and Rays youngster David Price managed to keep the Phillies shutout in the bottom of the 8th, despite walking Utley and allowing him to steal second. Manager Charlie Manuel brought in perfect closer Brad Lidge to save the game.Embed from Getty Images
Lidge got Longoria to pop out to Utley and got 2 quick strikes on Dioner Navarro, before he managed to get a single into right. Fernando Perez was brought in to pinch run, and instead of Baldelli Maddon used (2016 World Series MVP) Ben Zobrist to pinch hit. Perez stole second and then Zobrist lined to right for the second out. The tying run was in scoring position for pinch hitter Eric Hinske, substitution for Jason Bartlett. Lidge was in a similar situation before, but he gave up a 3 run homer to Albert Pujols in Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, forcing a Game 6. Lidge, chased out of Houston due to poor performance, would not like to repeat that incident on the World Series stage. And he didn’t. It only took 3 pitches for Lidge to strike out Hinske and to end the game.Embed from Getty Images
The Phillies won their first World Series since 1980, and this game was left to history.
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