Utley’s key double play a throwback to 2008 playoffs

ST. LOUIS - As it turns out, the Matt Stairs parallels go beyond Ben Francisco's pinch-hit home run. Because the same night Stairs hit his home run in the NLCS at Dodger Stadium in 2008, Chase Utley also pulled off a spectacular, run-saving doubleplay. It was just as he did Tuesday night in the Phillies' 3-2 win over the Cardinals.

Then as now, Ryan Madson was the pitcher.

Then as now, Rafael Furcal was the runner who was out at second base.

Then as now, Utley saved a precarious situation with his glove.

"Any time you can turn doubleplays, especially late in the game with guys on base, it's huge," Utley said. "They were ready to score some runs. They were putting some good at-bats together. Madson made a good pitch and we were able to get out of it."

In 2008, Utley snared a line drive and then crawled and dived back into the bag to double Furcal off second. Tuesday night, with bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning, the Cardinals' Allen Craig hit a rocket that Utley somehow managed to short-hop cleanly.

At that point, he had two options: flip the ball to shortstop Jimmy Rollins at second base or run the five strides to the bag himself. Utley chose to do it alone, beating Furcal - again - to second for the force and then throwing to first to get Craig for the doubleplay.

The real key: Because of the doubleplay, the Cardinals' Albert Pujols did not get a chance to hit with men on base in the eighth. Instead, he led off the ninth with his fourth hit of the night (and third double).

"That was a big inning for us," Utley said. "They were able to get some guys on base and they were in a good position to score some runs. Madson made a pretty good pitch and he hit it right at us.

"He hit it so hard that I knew I had some time to get to the bag. Jimmy was playing a little deep and I had two options, either to flip it to him or take it myself. I chose the latter."