Stairs Way to Heaven
The Phillies need just one more victory to make their first World Series since 1993.
Stairs Way to Heaven
Todd Zolecki
Never a doubt, right?
The Phillies came back in memorable fashion last night in a 7-5 victory over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Shane Victorino hit a game-tying two-run home run to right field in the eighth inning. Matt Stairs stepped up three batters later and hit a mammoth pinch-hit, two-run homer to right field to win it. Brad Lidge picked up his first four-out save of the season. They helped turn what would have been an ugly loss into a memorable win.
One more to go.
One more victory and the Phillies are in the World Series.
The Phillies are the 12th team to take a 3-1 lead in the NLCS since MLB introduced the best-of-seven format in 1985. Nine of the previous 11 advanced to the World Series. The '96 Cardinals blew a 3-1 lead against the Braves and the '03 Cubs blew a 3-1 lead agains the Marlins.
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I've seen the replay of Stairs' homer, and it can't do justice to how high and far he hit that ball. I mean, he just crushed it. Stairs became just the third Phillie to hit a pinch-hit homer in the postseason. Bake McBride and Jerry Martin also hit pinch-hit homers. McBride hit his Oct. 7, 1978, against the Dodgers in the NLCS. Martin hit his Oct. 4, 1978, against the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Jim Salisbury takes us Inside the Game, he looks at Stairs' at-bat a little more closely.
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Phil Sheridan writes about Public Enemy No. 1: Victorino. His 11 RBIs this postseason are the most in franchise history. Lenny Dykstra had 10 RBIs in the 1993 postseason.
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John Gonzalez writes about Cole Hamels' confidence before Game 4. Gonzalez, Ford and Sheridan also talk about Tommy Lasorda and bean ball wars. And check out a look at the scene last night at Dodger Stadium, including organist Nancy Bea Hefly.
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Bet you're glad the Phillies didn't bring back Hamels on short rest now. I tended to agree with Manuel on this one: Hamels hasn't pitched on short rest in his career, so you don't know how he would respond. And do you really want to test him for the first time in the postseason? And Game 4 wasn't going to be a do-or-die situation, so it wasn't absolutely necessary. Plus, Joe Blanton had thrown the ball well in Game 4 in Milwaukee. Hamels kind of tap dances around the question, but yesterday he finally indicated if given the opportunity he would pitch on short rest. It's just that pitching coach Rich Dubee made it clear it's their call and they don't want him doing it.
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Chase Utley turned a hell of a double play. ... The Dodgers and Phillies discuss brushbacks. ... The Phillies Notebook. ... The Dodgers Notebook. ... Video from The Fightins.
Wow. I had been thinking that the perceived Fox bias against Philly was all in our heads, just our inferiority complex showing again. Until Matt Stairs hits his home run, and they actually sounded let down. Even more so as Feliz made the final out. Is Tim McCarver trying too hard to NOT sound like he's a former Phillie?— Boogie- OK, Truth.....I'm really not going to get on your case again, but.....Everyone here knows how huge Howard's contributions were to get the team to this point. We're denying him his props. He would have been praised just as loudly as Stairs, if he had hit the game winner. It makes it all the more huge for Stairs because it was a *pinch hit* HR. That adds just a little more drama to the situation.— Norma
Just one more ridiculous statement. Ryan Howard was hailed as MVP on this blog and in the ballpark based on the September he had and his contribution to this team. He's a hero to this city, albeit an imperfect hero who has flaws like the rest of us. Now, can the sane among us all please agree to simply disregard these idiotic posts from here on? Let's focus on the amazingness of what's happening with our Phils!!!— bobby- James TL......"Utley is one of those players. He is a complete player unlike Truth's favorite player". I was just going to post the EXACT same thing! LOL!— Norma
- Truth, just when we think you have turned the corner with your racial bias remarks. Your evil twin "Black Truth" comes back... Can't we all get along ? I doubt that can happen with your hatred of blond haired blue eye people... Keep hope alive ! How bout we all root for "RED" Phillies team, at least for the next few weeks..You feel me ?— pat h
- Oooops! I meant "we're NOT denying Howard his props." Sorry, Truth. Don't go ballistic on me. LOL!— Norma
- In defense of the FOX broadcasters, at least they did call out the commissioner's office for fining Shane Victorino and defending his behavior on Sunday. Of course, the rest of the broadcast (unbelievably, obnoxiously annoying Rocky music aside) seemed awfully slanted. Sorry to the networks if it's looking like Manny won't be in the Series, but some would say that Karma's a b!tch (which is quite literally true, as my neighbor has a female Mini-Pinscher name Karma).— RollinsWasRight
- I actually liked Joe Buck's call of Stairs' homerun itself: "There it goes, deep into the night!" What was the call on the Phils' radio network? Bias by the announcers, perceived or real, is annoying but it doesn't affect the players. I was more disturbed by what appeared to be biased ball/strike calls: Manny twice benefited from borderline calls (if he were, say, Howard, then he would have been 'caught looking' by both Blanton and Lidge), while Utley was rung up on a pitch that was well outside. On the other hand, the Phils did seem to get some close calls in the crucial 8th, so maybe the home plate umpire was just inconsistent ...— Statman
- Apparently the only time "less is more" to the national broadcasters and talking heads is when they compare the Dodgers to the Phillies. They need to get a clue about two concepts: baseball talent and broadcast overkill. Better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you're clueless than to open your mouth and confirm it.— Scoop
- Gotta love Kate Fagan's opening to her article about Chase's double play. "That was just Chase being Chase." A little dig on Manny, Kate? LOL!— Norma
- My only Phillies complaint for the day, why in the world does he keep using So Taguchi? Seriously? At this point, stick a pitcher up there to bat if you need a right handed bat that bad. Maybe Myers. But So has proven himself absolutely useless.— Gary Varsho
- Gary V - I had the same thought! I still can't believe he made the playoff roster. However Ethier made a great diving catch.— KarenA
- Great minds think alike Norma....— James TL
- Gary; You have to remember that So Taguchi was the best PH in the league last year. I agree that he hasn't done the job this year but he has been good in the past. Unfortunately, the Phils don't have many viable RH bats off the bench right now.— James TL
So at least take a pitch or two. It seems like Taguchi swings/bunts at the first pitch every PH at bat lately. Gotta play smart. Every AB is crucial now.— RAS
