Here we are, finally at the end of round 1. We have split the field in half. Got rid of a few big names, but mostly Phillies Phodder that really just delayed the matchups we wanted to see. Here are the last matchups for Round 1:
#6 Lenny Dykstra vs #11 Chase Utley
#4 Gary Maddox vs #13 Greg Gross
#1 Richie Ashburn vs #16 Cookie Rojas
#7 Roy Thomas vs #10 Fred Luderus
You can find the most updated bracket by opening the link on the left bar, or clicking the link below.
The Good Phight's All-Time Phillies Tournament
Round 1 - Game # 29:
#6 Lenny Dykstra vs #11 Chase Utley
This might be the most anticipated matchup we have had yet. Gritty, hard nosed, beloved Lenny Dykstra versus gritty, hard nosed, beloved Chase Utley. The are a couple of regular Rocky Balboas and unfortunately, there are no all-flash, no heart Apollo Credes for them to play in the first round (though, at least one of our Rockys is assured to move on). Like any good fight, we want to see some drama and it go a full 5 rounds. In game 1, Utley came out scoring first with 2 in the second on a 2 run shot. The dude came back with a homer in the bottom of the inning and then a 2 run triple in the third. Dysktra put up another in the 4th, Utley got it back with 1 in the fifth, but Dysktra put it away with 1 in the 6th and 7th to take game 1. Game 2 had Utley come out firing again with 2 in the first. Dykstra came back with 1 in the bottom of the inning and 1 in the second and 1 in the third to take a 4-2 lead. A 3 run shot, 5 hits, 4 walks and a couple of errors lead to a 9 run 4th for the Dude and a 4 run 8th made it respectable for Utley, but round 2 went to the Dude. Utley is down and not looking good, can Lenny finish him with the TKO? Game 3 had Utley come out scoring first again with 1 in the first, but Lenny tied it up in the bottom of the inning. Utley came right back with 1 in the second on a lead off homer. 1 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th was all that Utley needed to win his first game of the series and show he wasn't down for the count. Inspired by the win, Utley came out with gunz a'blazin in game 4, scoring 2 in the 2nd, 4 in the 3rd 2 in the 5th, 3 in the 6th and 3 in the 7th to cruise to an easy 16-1 victory on 19 hits and 6 homers. The rubber match had Lenny scoring first with 1 run in the first. Utley tied it up in the 4th on a homer. The Dude put 2 on the board in the 6th thanks to a couple stolen bases. Utley tied it up in the 7th thanks to some small ball of his own. 1 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th gave Utley a comfortable lead. The Dude got one back, but it wasn't enough and the comeback was now complete.
G1: 6-3 Dykstra
G2: 14-8 Dykstra
G3: 8-2 Utley
G4: 16-1 Utley
G5: 7-4 Utley
Chase Utley wins the series 3-2.
Round 1 - Game # 30:
#4 Gary Maddox vs #13 Greg Gross
Both guys representing the 1980 WS team. Grossy was with the Phillies for 10 years but never amassed more than 245 at bats for them in a season. It is a shame because his OBP was .372 for his career, but good since that was 20 points higher than his SLG. In game 1, Gross scored first putting up a run in the 4th on a walk, walk single. Grossy added 3 more in the 7th on 4 more singles and 2 walks. Maddox got one back in the 8th, but it was too little too late. Game 2 showed to be a pitchers duel as Maddox opened up the scoring in the 5th with one run on sac fly after 2 stolen bases. Gross tied it up in the 7th and neither team threatened through 9. In the 10th, Gross hit back to back to back singles, a walk and another single to score 3 runs and put game 2 out of reach. Gross, smelling blood, came out firing in game 3 with 1 in the first. Maddox tied it up in the second on a homer but Gross scored 1 in the 4th and 2 in the fifth to build a commanding 4-1 lead. Maddox got 2 back in the bottom of the 6th to make it 4-3, but he only had 1 baserunner the rest of the way and lost the series 3-0. Gross had 29 hits in the series and 2 extra base hits.
G1: 6-1 Gross
G2: 4-1 Gross
G3: 4-3 Gross
Greg Gross wins the series 3-0.
Round 1 - Game # 31:
#1 Richie Ashburn vs #16 Cookie Rojas
Whitey versus Cookie. Wish we had him here to put color in this game and complain about the umpires, but alas, that is beyond even my powers. In game 1 Cookie shot out of a cannon. He lead off the game batting for the cycle, with a double, then a triple, a single and a passed ball and then a homer into Ashburn Alley. 4-0 without an out. Of course, just like real life, the computerized version of Whitey showed no fear and he came back with 3 in the second. In the 5th, Ashburn hit a rare 3 run shot and was on top 6-4. 2 more in the 6th and 3 in the 7th cemented the game for Richie. In game 2, Richie came out of the gate first with 1 in the second. He then scored 4 in the 5th, 4 in the 6th and 4 in the seventh to put this game out of reach. 14 runs on 16 hits, 15 of them singles. Cookie, down 2-0, scored 2 in the 2nd, but Ashburn put 2 up in the 3rd. He then added another in the 6th, but Rojas put one up in the 7th and eighth to take the lead. Ashburn responded with 1 of his own in the bottom of the eighth, but Rojas then scored 2 in the 9th. Ashburn got one back, but it wasn't enough and now lead the series 2-1. Ashburn erased all doubts of the serious bettors with a 3 run first and 4 run 5th in game 4 and won the series easily. Had `em all the way.
G1: 12-6 Ashburn
G2: 14-3 Ashburn
G3: 6-5 Rojas
G4: 8-2 Ashburn
Richie Ashburn wins the series 3-1.
Round 1 - Game # 32:
#7 Roy Thomas vs #10 Fred Luderus
Who and who? Well, anyway, Roy started off the scoring by putting 2 up in the first. Freddy came back with 2 in the 4th and 1 in the 6th and that is all he would need as Roy packed up his bats and went home. Roy decided he still needed those long sticks and put 5 on the board in the first inning of game 2 and the one more in the second inning. Fred chipped away with 1 in the 3rd and 1 in the 4th and 3 in the fifth. 1 more in the eighth tied it up and then Freddy exploded for 5 in the ninth. Roy started off the bottom of the 9th with a single, single, error, single to plate 2 runs and have 2 on. He could only score one more on a sac fly. Game 3 saw more of the same from Fred as he scored 3 runs in the first on a homer. Roy got one back with 1 in the second. They then traded runs in the 5th and Fred scored 1 in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead. He then decided to put the game away with a 4 run 8th and a nail in the coffin 7 run 9th which featured 2 three run homers.
G1: 4-2 Luderus
G2: 11-9 Luderus
G3: 16-2 Luderus
Fred Luderus wins the series 3-0.