Heroes of the 5544 2008 Championship Jimmy Rollins Carlos Ruiz
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N4 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2008 THE MORNING CALL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2008 N5 YO, PHILLY! WE DID IT! 1111 2288 2266 6 5 8 JIMMY ROLLINS • SS JAYSON WERTH • RF CHASE UTLEY • 2B RYAN HOWARD • 1B PAT BURRELL • LF SHANE VICTORINO • CF 1199 HEROES OF THE 5544 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP JIMMY ROLLINS CARLOS RUIZ In Game 161 of the regular season, he started an acrobatic 6-4-3 double play on Ryan After a dismal regular season at the plate, he was a lifeline for the Phillies in the postseason. In Zimmerman’s bases-loaded ground ball that looked like it was destined for center fi eld. The the fi rst three World Series games, he was 4-for-8 with four walks and a team-best three extra- twin-killing preserved the Phils’ 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals and gave the Phils their base hits (two doubles and a home run). In fi ve NLCS games and the opening three World Series second consecutive NL East Division title. Then after going 0-for-10 in the fi rst two games of games, hit .360. the World Series, was 5-for-9 and scored four runs in Games 3 and 4. JAMIE MOYER JAYSON WERTH Led the Phillies in regular-season wins (16). Although he got a no-decision, pitched well in GREG DOBBS • PH/3B Worked his way out of a platoon role and into the starting lineup just past the halfway part of Game 3 of the World Series, giving up just three runs, fi ve hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings. BRAD LIDGE • P the season. Put together an impressive NLDS, during which he had fi ve extra-base hits (three doubles, one triple, one home run). PEDRO FELIZ CHASE UTLEY Drove in the World Series-winning run in the Phillies’ 4-3 victory over the Rays in Game 5. Also was key in helping Phils sweep the Dodgers in a four-game series in August. Had game-tying Became just the third second baseman in MLB history to have four consecutive 100 RBI sea- RBI in bottom of the ninth. Then in the 11th, hit a two-out, three-run homer to give the Phils a 5- sons. Two of his biggest RBIs came in Game 1 of the World Series when he hit a two-run homer 2 victory in Game 3 of the series. in the fi rst inning (Phils hung on to win 3-2). Also put together a monstrous April, during which he hit .352 with 10 HRs and 21 RBIs. JOE BLANTON RYAN HOWARD Since being acquired in a trade with the Oakland A’s in late July, he is 6-0, including 2-0 in the 3355 postseason. Game 4 of the World Series highlighted his career. He hit the fi rst home run by a 1122 Huge factor in the Phillies taking fi rst place from the Mets in September, when he hit .352 with pitcher in a World Series game in 34 years and got the win, giving up only two runs in six-plus 11 home runs and 32 RBIs, the best numbers he put up in any month this year. Hit three HRs in innings. Games 3 and 4 of the World Series, both Phils wins. BRETT MYERS PAT BURRELL He returned to form after a midseason demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Was 4-1 with a 1.65 Tied for second in the N.L. with 16 game-winning RBIs. Broke an 0-for-13 World Series funk with ERA in August. In two September wins, threw 17 innings and gave up just one run. Added two a double that led to the series-winning run. Hit what turned out to be the game-clinching home playoff victories and some impressive postseason hits to his resume. But his walk in the second run in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. inning of Game 2 of the NLDS against Milwaukee ace CC Sabathia will live in Phillies lore. SHANE VICTORINO RYAN MADSON Came up with two huge home runs in the postseason. His grand slam in Game 2 of the NLDS A savior out of the bullpen down the stretch. In September, allowed just one earned run in 14 paced the Phillies’ 5-2 victory. Then in Game 4 of the NLCS against L.A. with the Phils trailing 5- innings (0.64 ERA). Was dominant in the postseason as well, pitching 12 2/3 innings and giving 3, he cracked a game-tying, two-run home run in the eighth to keep the Phils’ hopes alive. up only three earned runs while striking out 12 and walking just one. BRAD LIDGE COLE HAMELS Finished the season going a perfect 48-for-48 in save opportunities, including seven saves in Named the NLCS and World Series MVP. In fi ve starts in the postseason, went 4-0 with a 1.80 the postseason. In 9 1/3 innings in the playoffs, posted a 0.96 ERA, walked three and struck out ERA. Opponents hit just .190 against him. In 35 innings pitched, struck out 30, walked just nine 13, including the fi nal batter of the 2008 season. In his fi nal 15 appearances of the regular and allowed 23 hits. 2 season, which consisted of 14 /3 innings, posted a 0.61 ERA in helping the Phils go 14-1. GREG DOBBS MATT STAIRS COLE HAMELS • SP Was Major League Baseball’s best bat off the bench, coming up with 22 pinch hits during the MATT STAIRS • PH The 40-year-old hit his fi rst career postseason home run in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the regular season, which set a single-season club record. NLCS against the Dodgers. The pinch-hit long ball, which came with the game tied at 5, gave the Phillies a 7-5 victory. 6633 3399 5566 7 5500 51 RYAN MADSON • P BRETT MYERS • SP JOE BLANTON • SP PEDRO FELIZ • 3B JAMIE MOYER • SP CARLOS RUIZ • C Photos by Rob Kandel and Michael Kubel The Morning Call, Getty Images Design by Craig Kackenmeister, compiled by Mandy Housenick The Morning Call.