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World Series Game Three Recap: All Night Thing

You couldn't script this. Any of it. You've seen all those cheesy MLB commercials about October? Who knew that they'd prove true, and that the Phils would land right in the middle of it all. 

It's hard to process everything we saw tonight. The game didn't start until about 10pm, and ended around quarter to two. The 45 year-old Philly-area native Jamie Moyer was absolutely magnificent, stymieing the Tampa Bay Rays for six innings with pinpoint location and Jedi mind tricks--and then was very nearly undone by an umpiring call that was as bad as Kerwin Danley's disasters in Game Two, and even more harmful.

Tied 4-4 in the 9th, the Phils won it in walkoff style as Tampa fell apart at the end: Eric Bruntlett reached on a hit-by-pitch, and with Shane Victorino attempting to bunt, a Grant Balfour wild pitch bounced back to Dioner Navarro--who threw it into centerfield, getting Bruntlett to third with no outs. Two intentional walks later, a Carlos Ruiz bleeder up the third base line scored Bruntlett as Evan Longoria's desperate toss sailed over Navarro's head. 

Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard all crushed solo home runs to give Moyer a 4-1 lead heading into the 7th, when Tampa staged a two-run rally that started with a Carl Crawford bunt attempt. Moyer sprawled out to field it and flipped to first, beating Crawford by a half-step--but Howard, who caught it bare-handed, blocked first-base ump Tom Hallion with his body, and Crawford was called safe. Dioner Navarro followed with a double, advancing Crawford to third; both Rays scored on groundouts to bring it to 4-3. 

Speed was key as the Rays scored the tying run off Ryan Madson in the 8th. Melvin Upton hit a chopper up the middle that Jimmy Rollins fielded but could not get to first before Upton--running hard this time--got to the bag. The young outfielder then stole second, stole third, and scored as Ruiz's throw hit his leg and bounced toward the Tampa dugout. The teams then traded zeroes until the improbable finish. 

Though Moyer, the blown call and the speed of the Rays were the big stories tonight, credit should go to the somewhat revived Phillies hitters tonight too. Jimmy Rollins broke his 0-for with two hits and a run, Utley drove in two with a groundout and his solo shot, Howard reached the seats (and turned several nice defensive plays), and Ruiz went 2 for 3 with a solo homer and the game-winning dribbler--raising his average for the Series to an even .500. 

The Phils go for a 3-1 lead tomorrow behind Joe Blanton, who faces off against Tampa's Andy Sonnanstine. 

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intense game

 tho’ I feel for Moyer. Would have loved him to get the decision.
Sad part about this is that the newspapers will completely miss this — and there is so much to write about.

Repeat of one of my last game thread posts: Emotionally, I feel like even though we won, I still have this need for vengeance b/c of the blown call.

by Wet Luzinski on Oct 26, 2008 2:19 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agree on all points. But seeing Moyer on the postgame, I think he’ll get over it ;)

I’m hoping that this gives them the feeling they can’t be stopped—by the umps, by the Rays, by whoever.

by dajafi on Oct 26, 2008 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Megaprops to the Inquirer for having a special section with final game results. Impressive turnaround by production and circulation.

by Wet Luzinski on Oct 26, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

2 more big things from this game

1. longoria’s homerun-wait-not-actually-a-homerun ball. would have completely changed the game (obviously). but, really thankful for the wind, there.

2. eyre’s GIANT strikeout of iwamura. wowowowowowow

by char6587 on Oct 26, 2008 2:25 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

great point

Eyre was an unsung hero tonight. Iwamura is a tough out.

by dajafi on Oct 26, 2008 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

postgame interview on CSN, Eyre said he didn’t realize it was a 1-run game until he left.

by Wet Luzinski on Oct 26, 2008 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yes

OK, I was scared shitless with that non-homer. If anyone was there, was it really the wind knocking that down? His swing looked like a 400 ft homer in the making.

by pacino on Oct 26, 2008 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i think it was just too high.

by taco pal on Oct 26, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The wind really did stop that ball from going out. The ball was headed foul, the wind knocked it fair and then knocked it down.

by jl323 on Oct 26, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hmm. In that case, it wouldn’t have been a home run either way, right?

by taco pal on Oct 26, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

well it took a few seconds to transpire. it looked like a HR for about 2 seconds.

by jl323 on Oct 26, 2008 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

My big takeaway from this is that I feel a whole lot better about the prospect of Moyer pitching a game 7 if need be.

And I agree with everything that has been said above.

P.S. Jayson Werth has been stinking the basepaths up something terrible this series. He should get a good talking to from someone after getting picked off of 2nd w/1 out tonight.

by FuquaManuel on Oct 26, 2008 2:35 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I can’t believe Maddon gave us those 2 intentional walks and then set up 5 in the infield! Those were some bad decisions… not that I’m complaining!

"[Lou] Gehrig never learned that a ballplayer couldn't be good every day." Hank Gowdy

by S. Raven on Oct 26, 2008 8:27 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Huh?

Both decisions were sound.

With a man on third already in a tie game in the bottom of the 9th, loading the bases improves the situation for the Rays by setting up a possible force play at home.

The 5-man infield was brilliant, although it ended up not making any difference. Again, with a man on third with fewer than two outs, a medium-deep flyball anywhere is as good as a hit — it doesn’t matter if there’s anyone out there to catch it. Since two outfielders can pretty much cover the shallow ground immediately behind the infield, it makes sense to use one OF as an IF to field groundballs. Nothing they could do to defend against a chopper such as Ruiz hit though.

by phatj on Oct 26, 2008 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

On post-game they said that before the game, Tim McGraw spread some of his dad’s ashes on the pitcher’s mound.

Not that I believe in crap like that, but… wow.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Oct 26, 2008 10:17 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Oh, and in case you didn’t know, his dad = Tug McGraw.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Oct 26, 2008 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I dunno. Chalk me up in the category that thinks…ewww…gross.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Oct 26, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i just keep thinking about that scene from the big lebowski.

by taco pal on Oct 26, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

also unsung in this game

JC romero. fantastic job out of the pen. could not have won this game without him.

by char6587 on Oct 26, 2008 1:09 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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