THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
Ryan Howard hit 48 homers this season and won the NL title for home runs, much as Mike Schmidt did back in 1980 when the Phillies won their only title. Schmidt also won the league and World Series MVP awards. Here's a month-by-month look at how they reached 48, plus their postseason totals.
Apr: 5
May: 10
June: 5
Jul: 10
Aug: 7
Sept: 11
Playoffs: 0
SCHMIDT
Apr: 4
May: 12
June: 5
July: 6
Aug: 6
Sept: 13
Playoffs: 2
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A SERIES LEFT TO BREAK MARKS
The win last night tied the franchise record for most postseason road wins (set in 1980 and '93) and most single-season playoff wins (set in '80). In addition, their next win at Citizens Bank Park will set a franchise mark for postseason home wins in a season.
Year Home Away
1915 1-1 0-3
1950 0-2 0-2
1976 0-2 0-1
1977 1-1 0-2
1978 0-2 1-1
1980 4-1 3-3
1981 2-1 0-2
1983 2-3 2-2
1993 3-3 3-3
2007 0-2 0-1
2008 4-0 3-2
Totals 17-18 11-23
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POUNDING THE OPPOSITION EARLY
Jimmy Rollins led off the game last night with a home run, the fourth time he has done that this season and the 30th time in his career, a franchise record. Here is a rundown of this season's leadoff homers for last year's MVP.
Date Opponent Outcome
4/7 at Reds Won, 5-3
6/16 vs. Red Sox W, 8-2
10/5 at Brewers W, 6-2
10/15 at Dodgers -
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ONE PLACE TO BEGIN
Why have the Phils reached the Series for the first time in 15 years? Well, you can start with the rotation, which in nine games combined for a 4.22 ERA, even with Jamie Moyer's two below-par outings.
Date Pitcher IP H ER SO ERA
10/1 Hamels 8.0 2 0 9 0.00
10/2 Myers 7.0 2 2 4 2.57
10/4 Moyer 4.0 4 2 3 4.00
10/5 Blanton 6.0 5 1 7 1.50
10/9 Hamels 7.0 6 2 8 2.57
10/10 Myers 5.0 6 5 6 9.00
10/12 Moyer 1.1 6 6 2 40.50
10/14 Blanton 5.0 7 3 4 5.40
10/15 Myers 7.0 5 1 5 1.93
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49 AND COUNTING
Brad Lidge closed out last night's clincher by coming into a non-save situation, leaving his streak of converted saves at 49 straight. Tampa and Boston are not among his victims in a stretch that began Sept. 25, 2007, against the Reds while he was pitching for the Astros. No. Team
8 Braves
6 Marlins
5 Reds and Nationals
4 Brewers
3 Cubs, Cards, Dodgers, Mets, Padres
1 Rangers, Astros, Giants, Diamondbacks, Pirates, Rockies
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6 MORE NUMBERS
4 HRs that Phillies pinch-hitters have hit in the postseason (Jerry Martin and Bake McBride vs. Dodgers in the 1978 NLCS, George Vukovich vs. Expos in 1981 NLDS, and Matt Stairs vs. Dodgers in 2008 NLCS)
4 Postseason games that the Phillies scored in the first inning, and they won all four games
6 Wins for Cole Hamels in his last 11 starts on the road, dating back to July 28 in Texas
16 Innings the Phils have scored in 77 postseason innings
20 Wins for the Phils in their last 25 games
99 Wins for the Phils this season, counting the playoffs, three short of the franchise record set in 1977 and 1993
