This season flown by so fast, it felt like it was only yesterday when I was driving in snow to get to Opening Day in Philadelphia, and here we are at the final game of the regular season. These Phillies played in so many memorable games this season from game 1 and fought to have the best record in the Majors by pressing on and not giving up in several games. After a long schneid near the end of the season, it ended on a positive note with the Phillies winning 4 straight. Not only did they win 4 straight to finish the season, but they won a franchise best 102 games, and Charlie Manuel won his 646th game as a Phillies skipper which is the most by any Phillies manager.
The Braves were in a similar situation from last year on the final game of the season as they met with the Phillies in the final game of the season once again. If they won and the Cardinals won, then they would have a chance at making the playoffs. However if they lost, they would have to depend on Brett Myers and the Astros to play spoiler for the Braves to enter the playoffs. However, things were the opposite from last year, as the Braves all mighty bullpen fell apart and the Phillies won in extras. Meanwhile in Houston, Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals shut out the Astros and were waiting for the outcome of the action in Atlanta.
The Phillies got started in the 1st inning with 2 outs when Tim Hudson walked Hunter Pence then Ryan Howard doubled to bring him in. The Braves answered back in their half of the inning when Joe Blanton allowed a leadoff single to Michael Bourn who stole second. After he advanced to third on a ground out, Chipper Jones hit a sac fly to bring in Bourn. Just like in his previous start, Blanton struck out the side in the 2nd inning. Freedie Freeman led off with a ground rule double then after Brian McCann struck out, Matt Diaz hit an infield single to put runners on the corners. Blanton punched out Jack Wilson and Tim Hudson to get out of the inning.
Cole Hamels came on in relief to get some work in for the playoffs and allowed a single to Bourn who stole second. After Martin Prado reached on an infield single (Bourn could not advance), Bourn was caught trying to steal third base. One out later, Dan Uggla homered to give the Braves a 2 run advantage. Hamels pitched 3 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits, no walks and struck out 1. After Hamels left, the Phillies bullpen allowed 3 hits in the final 8 innings pitched. Vance Worley pitched himself in a little jam in the 6th inning. He issued back to back walks to Uggla and Freeman to start off the frame and to get the Tomahawk Chop going. Then Worley came back and struck out McCann and Diaz to get 2 outs. Jack Wilson singled to right fielder Pence who threw home and gunned out McCann out at home for the final out.
The Phillies commenced their comeback in the 7th inning when Raul Ibanez doubled with 1 out off Hudson. Placido Polanco singled to move Ibanez to third then Carlos Ruiz reached on a Wilson error which scored Ibanez. Eric O’Flaherty came on and pitched to pinch hitter Shane Victorino who hit into a double play. After Johnny Venters walked 2 and hit a batter to load the bases with 2 outs but eventually got out of the jam, Braves phenomenal closer Craig Kimbrel came on to force a 1 game playoff with the Cards at worst. Polanco led off with a single who was replaced by Pete Orr to run for Polanco. After Kimbrel struck out Ruiz, he issued back to back walks to pinch hitter Ben Francisco and Jimmy Rollins to load the bases. Utley hit a sac fly to tie the game at 3.
Both teams battled back in forth in extra innings. In the bottom 10th with Bourn on first and 2 outs, Jones hit a sure extra base hit which would have scored the speedy Bourn, but Michael Martinez tracked it down and denied the Braves from winning. In the top 13th with Scott Linebrink on the hill, he walked Brian Schneider with 1 out then got Rollins to fly out. After Utley singled Schneider to third, Pence brought in the go ahead run when he hit a ground ball to short right field to score Schneider. David Herndon was summoned to pitch the bottom 13th and walked Uggla with 1 out, but Freeman hit into a 3-6-3 double play to end the game. This was Herndon’s first career save and Justin DeFratus who pitched the bottom 12th earned his first career win.
Caught: 54-28 (82) (7-9 since September 4)
Missed: 48-32 (80)<- (28-11 since July 15)
2 (IIRC, first time EVER I caught more than I missed!)
