Phillies win 1st World Series in almost 3 decades
Last Updated: Thursday, October 30, 2008 | 5:23 AM ET
CBC Sports
Closer Brad Lidge and catcher Carlos Ruiz celebrate Philadelphia's World Series victory after the Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)Already waiting 28 years to experience another championship, Philadelphia Phillies fans had to endure the suspense a little longer before breaking out in celebration.
With Game 5 delayed by two days due to heavy rain, the Phillies washed away almost three decades of frustration by capturing the World Series with a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
Third baseman Pedro Feliz brought home the winning run in the seventh on an RBI single, and closer Brad Lidge retired the Rays in the ninth.
Lidge also completed a perfect 2008 campaign, converting all 41 saves in the regular season and seven in the playoffs.
"It's perfection shared with everybody else in here," Lidge said while getting a champagne shower in the clubhouse. "Without them, it couldn't happen."
Tampa Bay threatened to tie the game in the ninth as pinch-runner Fernando Perez stole second. However, Lidge got Ben Zobrist to line out to right and then struck out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske to close out the game.
Even general manager Pat Gillick said he thought Lidge was due for a blown save.
"I thought the law of averages would catch up with our closer tonight, but he hung in there and did a great job," said Gillick, who guided the Toronto Blue Jays to consecutive World Series titles in the early 1990s.
Hamels named MVP
Pitcher Cole Hamels was named World Series MVP after the talented lefty went 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA. Hamels started Game 5 on Monday, pitching six outstanding innings but didn't get credit for the victory.
"This is something that you have to live for," said Hamels, who outpitched Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir during a 3-2 victory in the opener. "Going out there, I knew I had a job to do."
The Phillies earned their first title since defeating the Kansas City Royals in 1980, and won it all for only the second time in team history.
"It had to be won here," Lidge said. "The fans deserve it. It had to be here. You go through a lot to be in this position. I wouldn't change anything in my career. It got me all right here, right now. This is the best it'll ever be."
Philadelphia was also making its first World Series appearance since suffering a heartbreaking loss in 1993 when Toronto outfielder Joe Carter slugged his famous series-ending home run.
Heavy showers suspend Game 5
Game 5 actually began on Monday night, but was pushed back two days because of the heavy rain that turned Citizens Bank Park into a swamp.
The Rays and Phillies were tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but umpires put a halt to Monday's contest shortly after Rays first baseman Carlos Pena singled home B.J. Upton from second base with the tying run.
The teams finished playing Wednesday following the first suspension of a game in Series history.
"It was a crazy way to win it with a suspended game, but we did, and it's over, and we're very excited," said 45-year-old Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer said. "It has been a long wait, but it's worth it."
The Phillies took a 3-2 lead quickly, scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth. Geoff Jenkins began the inning by doubling to centre off pitcher Grant Balfour.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins then bunted Jenkins to third before Jayson Werth's bloop single allowed him to score. Werth's RBI was made possible as Tampa Bay second baseman Akinori Iwamura failed to come down with a difficult over the shoulder catch.
Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli squared the game in the seventh with his first hit of the series, taking pitcher Ryan Madson's fastball over the left-field wall.
Philadelphia prevented the Rays from taking the lead as second baseman Chase Utley threw out Jason Bartlett at the plate after the Tampa Bay shortstop was attempting to go home on an infield hit.
The Phillies took the lead for good in the bottom half of their inning. With the Tampa Bay infield playing in, Feliz's single up the middle scored pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett.
With files from the Associated Press
