The Game of Baseball

The Philadelphia Phillies drew first blood, as they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday night at Tropicana Field 3-1 in game one of the 2008 World Series. The Phillies who had an extended vacation while the Rays had to play seven games in the ALCS, did not appear to have lost their mojo. Cole Hamels who pitched the game in the NLCS to put the Phillies in the series for the first time since 1993, worked out of some tough situations to get the victory.

Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir, found himself behind early in the contest, as Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley hit a 2 run homer to right in the first inning. Kazmir fell behind 3-0 in the top of the fourth as Carlos Ruiz grounded out, but Shane Victorino scored on the play.

The Rays got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Carl Crawford hit a solo blast into right off of Hamels. Tampa Bay turned it into a 3-2 game in the bottom of the fifth, when second baseman Akinori Iwamura had a RBI double into center. But Hamels settled down after that, pitching seven innings before Ryan Madson came in from the bullpen in the eighth. Madson pulled a scoreless inning, and closer Brad Lidge got the Rays out in order in the ninth for the save.

Hamels gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in his seven innings, he walked 2 and struck out 5. Kazmir lasted six innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, with 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts, as he took the loss. Game two will be played Thursday night, Brett Myers gets the start for Philadelphia, James Shields will be on the mound for Tampa Bay.