Fiery Phils Follow Flub with Fight

The Philadelphia Phillies forced a game six in the NLCS after climbing out to an early lead and holding on against the hometown Giants. The defending NL champions defeated San Francisco 4-2 in a pitching rematch between game one starters, Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum. The Phillies escaped McCovey Cove by stealing a win from the Giants and ace Lincecum. The San Francisco hurler tossed seven innings of two run ball, but his defense arguably cost him the win in the third inning. Halladay was stellar in his second start of the NLCS, battling through six innings to keep the Phillies’ season alive. The Giants still have the edge 3-2 as the series heads back to the city of brotherly love.
The Giants scored first Thursday night, picking up a run in the first inning on Buster Posey’s fielder’s choice. In the top of the third, San Francisco’s infield handed the Phillies a 3-1 lead. Had it not been for the Giant giveaways, perhaps San Francisco would be headed to the World Series. But the home team’s sloppy defense and miscues gave the Phillies the drive they needed to kill the Giants’ momentum. Raul Ibanez singled off Lincecum and Carlos Ruiz was hit by an inside fastball to begin the frame. A questionable Halladay sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third for outfield slugger, Shane Victorino. The vicious Victorino was ruled safe at second on an error by Giants’ first baseman, Aubrey Huff. The ball bounced off Huff’s glove and skirted into the outfield to score a pair of runs. Victorino scored on a base hit by second baseman, Chase Utley, five pitches later.
San Francisco got one run back in the fourth. Back-to-back doubles by Pat Burrell and Cody Ross resulted in the Giants’ second tally of the game. Philadelphia got out of the jam by throwing out Ross, who tested Jayson Werth’s arm while attempting to tag up on Pablo Sandoval’s fly ball to right field. Halladay buckled down the rest of the game to keep the Giants off the scoreboard and the Phillies’ one run advantage intact. Philadelphia added an insurance run on Werth’s ninth inning homerun off Ramon Ramirez. Closer, Brad Lidge, was called upon to shut down the Giants in the bottom of the ninth. Lidge earned the three out save with just ten pitches. Lincecum suffered the loss for San Francisco, despite striking out seven batters.

Parting Points: Song for Friday- “I Alone” by Live