Phillies Win World Series Defeat Rays 4-3 In Resumed Game Five
What if they played a World Series, and nobody watched? In the most anti-climatic World Series since 1989 when the Loma Prieta earthquake disrupted the "Bay Area Series" the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 Wednesday night. The win came two days after the start of the contest, which was suspended in the bottom of the sixth due to rain.
These two teams deserved a better showcase than what the 2008 World Series devolved into. The Rays were the feel good story of baseball all year long, as they went from a team that had never had a winning season in its existence to going to "The Show." Philadelphia, a team that had been built patiently by General Manager Pat Gillick and manager Charlie Manuel had been close the last few seasons. This was the season they finally broke through, fittingly in Gillick's last season before retirement.
The Series started off very well as the two teams split the first two games in Tampa Bay. But a three hour rain delay took some of the lustre of an exciting Phillies win in game three by a score of 5-4. Game four was just a one sided blow out as Philadelphia beat up the Rays 10-2 to take a 3-1 series lead. The series hit its low point Monday night as the two teams played in terrible elements until the game was finally called before the bottom of the sixth. It was deemed a suspended game and would resume where it had stopped.
This was just another blunder during the reign of incompetence of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. This will be right at the top of the list along with the "Year Without A World Series" and the All-Star game that ended in a tie. As great a game as baseball is the powers that be at MLB keep trying to shoot themselves in the foot. The sooner the era of Selig as Commissioner is over, the better the game will be. (One plea; do not name the former Team Owner of the Texas Rangers who will be unemployed come January to the post!)
After a night of rain Tuesday night the two teams took the field Wednesday night all knotted up at 2-2. Rays reliever Grant Balfour took the mound and faced pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins who led off the inning with a double. Jimmy Rollins put down the sacrifice getting Jenkins to third. Jayson Werth hit a bloop RBI single, and the Phillies were ahead 3-2. Reliever Ryan Madson could not hold the Philadelphia lead in the top of the seventh as Rocco Baldelli homered to let and tied the game at 3-3.
J.P. Howell took the mound for Tampa Bay in the bottom of the seventh . Pat Burrell greeted him with a double to deep center to lead off the frame. Eric Bruntlett came into run for Burrell, Chad Bradford took over for Howell on the mound. Shane Victorino grounded to second, and Bruntlett went to third on the play. He scored as Pedro Feliz hit a RBI single to center for what would prove to be the eventual winning run.
Phillies reliever J.C. Romero got the win, Brad Lidge the save, Rays reliever J.P. Howell took the loss. It is the first World Series win for Philadelphia since 1980.
These two teams deserved a better showcase than what the 2008 World Series devolved into. The Rays were the feel good story of baseball all year long, as they went from a team that had never had a winning season in its existence to going to "The Show." Philadelphia, a team that had been built patiently by General Manager Pat Gillick and manager Charlie Manuel had been close the last few seasons. This was the season they finally broke through, fittingly in Gillick's last season before retirement.
The Series started off very well as the two teams split the first two games in Tampa Bay. But a three hour rain delay took some of the lustre of an exciting Phillies win in game three by a score of 5-4. Game four was just a one sided blow out as Philadelphia beat up the Rays 10-2 to take a 3-1 series lead. The series hit its low point Monday night as the two teams played in terrible elements until the game was finally called before the bottom of the sixth. It was deemed a suspended game and would resume where it had stopped.
This was just another blunder during the reign of incompetence of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. This will be right at the top of the list along with the "Year Without A World Series" and the All-Star game that ended in a tie. As great a game as baseball is the powers that be at MLB keep trying to shoot themselves in the foot. The sooner the era of Selig as Commissioner is over, the better the game will be. (One plea; do not name the former Team Owner of the Texas Rangers who will be unemployed come January to the post!)
After a night of rain Tuesday night the two teams took the field Wednesday night all knotted up at 2-2. Rays reliever Grant Balfour took the mound and faced pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins who led off the inning with a double. Jimmy Rollins put down the sacrifice getting Jenkins to third. Jayson Werth hit a bloop RBI single, and the Phillies were ahead 3-2. Reliever Ryan Madson could not hold the Philadelphia lead in the top of the seventh as Rocco Baldelli homered to let and tied the game at 3-3.
J.P. Howell took the mound for Tampa Bay in the bottom of the seventh . Pat Burrell greeted him with a double to deep center to lead off the frame. Eric Bruntlett came into run for Burrell, Chad Bradford took over for Howell on the mound. Shane Victorino grounded to second, and Bruntlett went to third on the play. He scored as Pedro Feliz hit a RBI single to center for what would prove to be the eventual winning run.
Phillies reliever J.C. Romero got the win, Brad Lidge the save, Rays reliever J.P. Howell took the loss. It is the first World Series win for Philadelphia since 1980.
© Copyright 2008 thesackattack.net