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File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER The Giants can win the pennant tonight at AT&T Park. |
Yep, the Giants can advance to the World Series tonight if Lincecum can outduel Halladay once again. Neither pitcher was at the absolute top of his game the first time around. Something tells me both guys will be amped up for this one, with Lincecum wanting to close the series out on San Francisco's home turf and Halladay not wanting to be the guy responsible for ending Philadelphia's season.
Should be another good one. Unfortunately, I'm barely going to be able to watch it. The wife and I are heading to Chicago for a long weekend of deep dish pizza and Northwestern football, and we'll be in the skies during the majority of this game. I trust you'll all keep me up to date so when we land at O'Hare and I turn on the BlackBerry, I'll instantly know what happened.
I'll try to keep putting up threads for any remaining LCS games over the weekend, but otherwise you probably won't be seeing too much new material on the site. Enjoy the games and wish my Wildcats luck against 7-0 Michigan State (they're gonna need it)...
NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES — GAME 5
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Where: AT&T Park
Gametime: 7:57 p.m.
Where: AT&T Park
Gametime: 7:57 p.m.TV: Fox Radio: WTEM-980 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 63 degrees
PHILLIES
CF Shane Victorino
3B Placido Polanco
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
RF Jayson Werth
SS Jimmy Rollins
LF Raul Ibanez
C Carlos Ruiz
P Roy Halladay
GIANTS
CF Andres Torres
2B Freddy Sanchez
1B Aubrey Huff
C Buster Posey
LF Pat Burrell
RF Cody Ross
3B Pablo Sandoval
SS Juan Uribe
P Tim Lincecum
34 comments:
A perfect first inning from "the Freak", a leadoff walk for "Doc" which leads to the first Giants run. Giants 1, Phillies 0 after one.
3 up, 3 down again for the Giants in the top of the 2nd. Halladay's command is off again in the bottom half, but doesn't allow any Giants to reach base. He has thrown around 45 pitches already.
Giants still up 1-0.
Wow, another blown call has a major impact.
Top of 3, with no one out, Ibanez bloops a single, Ruiz doesn't even blink on a changeup to the right forearm, and Halladay, up to bunt, dribbles one that rolls off the plate toward the LH batters box. Posey grabs it off the dirt (clearly foul, but called fair) and fires to Sandoval at third. But he was in for the bunt, and can't get to the bag before Ibanez. Halladay was still in the box (in all fairness, he was standing right there to see it was foul when Posey grabbed it), so they at least get an out. But then Huff kicks a two-hopper into medium-deep center field! and two runs score.
Now the Phillies are smelling blood, and start smacking liners into the outfield, and stealing bases.
Howard strikes out with runners on second and third, and Werth flies to Burrell in left.
3-2, Phils.
Correction: 3-1, Phils.
Aforementioned smackin and swipin from Victorino, Polanco (RBI), and Utley.
Oh, and good luck to the Purple Haze!
Man, you just don't get local-color shots like this anywhere else. I'm getting homesick.
With one out, Burrell doubles to left. Let's see if Roy is going to throw another inside fastball ....
and whaddayaknow, Ross inside-outs --- yes, an inside fastball! for a double down the right-field line.
But then Ross gets caught trying to go 2nd to 3rd on Sandoval's fly ball to right center.
3-2, Philadelphia.
Halladay is not settled in, but how long can that last?
Sprinkles at the start are becoming actual drizzle in the bottom of the fifth.
Ryan Howard ole's a ground ball from Torres, tho not nearly the distance that Huff got, and Sanchez singles through the hole to left. Two out, two on, raining harder now with Huff up.
And Huff Daddy taps one out front for the 2-3 ground out.
Five complete.
The weather report says this is an isolated shower. I dunno, it's coming down pretty steadily, from what I can see on tv. Looks like a soaker.
Lincecum has six strikeouts through six, three of them Ryan Howard.
Jimmy Rollins hamstring must be feeling better. He just stole second, and then third without a throw. Ruiz gets the first walk from Lincicum, and so Halladay is done after six. Ross Gload pinch-hits with runners on first and third with one out.
And he lines out to Huff, who doubles off Ruiz to end the threat.
Still raining.
Ross Gload, meet Aubrey Huff! His stabbing grab, which turned your line drive into a DP, just sent your team back to the dugout. Try to remember this is the VISITOR'S locker room you're about to trash.
Phils still up by one run... but that's going to change, now that Doc has left this particular house call.
Contreras pitching. Fontenot strikes out hitting for Lincecum in the 7th.
One on, two out. J.C. Romero in to pitch to Huff.
Lines on the starters:
Halladay 6 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 5Ks.
Lincecum 7-4-3-2-1-7
Utley just floats up to his right for Huff's liner to end the inning.
Still 3-2 after 7. Rain seems to have stopped.
Romo now to Victorino.
Do they ever dye those beards orange? Maybe orange spirals like those Hallowe'en candies?
And Romo may be hurt ... Victorino grounded out to first unasst., but in moving to cover, Romo's right foot went right out from under him on the wet mound.
Well, he's staying in ...
but not for long. Walked Polanco. Lopez in for Utley and Howard.
>|, F7.
Utley stands like a gas station on Route 66 watching a line of Priuses go by. Helpless. Howard flies to left.
Bottom of the 8th: Madsen gets to face
Posey, Burrell, and Ross; Wilson getting loose.
*Madson*
Madson blows away the side, all swinging at nasty stuff. The blown call is holding up so far ...
Ramon Ramirez, for Werth, Rollins, Ibanez. Lidge warming up.
Worth goes oppo-boppo. 4-2, Phils.
Most Postseason HR, NL, all time: Werth ties for the top of a pretty good list, with 13 now.
looks like we are going back to Philly. Oh man, I wish Giants would just win it already so I can start celebrating.
Man, who knew Madson still had so much in the tank after last night? As for Werth... curse him!
Hopefully "Bad Brad" comes out for the bottom of the ninth, otherwise this could turn nasty in Philthadelphia.
Now *there* is a play Adam Dunn does not make.
Swinging bunt up the third base side, which Sandoval grabs and rushes--only play he had, but the throw was way up the line. Huff went horizontal to save the error, and probably a run.
Maybe it's better to have a wide receiver at first than a quarterback?
Two on, two out, Affeldt pitching to Victorino.
...who K's.
So, if Lidge blows this save ...
We may never know. Giants go quietly in the ninth, and now they go back to Philadelphia.
Happy landings, Mr. & Mrs. Z.
Thanks, y'all, for the blogging of the game. I am in rural North Carolina with my Dad -- the same one who taught me to love baseball and now won't watch it -- and the MLB app won't load. Plus you cracked me up. I too wish that the Giants had clinched last night. But, for his sake, I'm glad Lidge didn't blow it.
Looking forward to what you all write about the Yanks!
The Panda is a tub of goo.
Who would have thought going into the LCS both the Philles and the Yankees would face elimination in a game 6.
Anonymous said...
"Who would have thought going into the LCS both the Philles and the Yankees would face elimination in a game 5."
FIFY
Go Wildcats!
(Class of 2004)
Are you a Giordano's, Lou Malnati's, or Gino's East person?
Sec3MySofa: THANK YOU for the fantastic updates last night. Was great reading through a virtual play-by-play of the game after I got to Chicago. Sounds like it was quite a ballgame.
Josh F: Nice to know there's a fellow NU alum out there. Was up in Evanston today walking around campus, had lunch at Clarke's (I'd been craving their apple pancake for about the last 10 years). Oh, and definitely Geno's East for pizza -- we're headed there tonight for dinner!
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