‘08 Phightin’s sweep ‘67 Redbirds in 3 game set

9/10-9/11 - Busch Memorial Stadium
GAME 1 - Phillies 4, Cardinals 3
"Cha Cha", Orlando Cepeda hit his 10th homer of the season, but that still wasn't enough as Brett Myers (3-1, 3.00) and 5 relievers allowed only 3 runs.  After a 68 minute rain delay in the 5th ended Myers day as well as Cardinal starter Alvin Jackson the game hinged on which pen would be the best pen.  Jim Cosman on the Cards gave up 2 runs in the top of the 6th to provide the difference.  Pat "the bat" Burrell, who actually got to pitch to one batter (don't ask...) led off the 6th with a solo shot.  After 2 outs a string of walks, balks and wild pitches led to the Phightin's all important insurance run.  Brad Lidge had to work for his money to save this one since St. Louis had runners on 1st and 2nd with only one out.  Lidge, who was perfect in '08, rose to the occassion and go the final two batters (Dal Maxvill and Bobby Tolan) to ground out weakly.

GAME 2 - Phillies 4, Cardinals 3 (12 inn)
Same score as the opener, but this one took 12 innings to be decided.  Star lefty starters Cole Hamel and Steve Carlto had almost identical linescores as both hit the showers after 7 inning of work.  An error by Pedro Feliz in the bottom of the second allowed Dave Ricketts to get to second, where Dal Maxvill singled him home to make it 1-0.  It stood that way until the 6th when the Phils finally solved Carlton to the tune of 3 huge runs.  After Jayson Werth led off with a single Ryan Howard hit a monster 2 run shot to make it 2-1 Phills.  Atoning for his second inning error, Pedro Feliz tripled to deep center with 1 out ans scored on a groundout by Chooch.  Down 3-1 after 6 1/2 innings of play the Cards finally got their break when Lou Brock hit a wind aided homer to tie it.  Neither team could score until the top of the 12th when J-Roll led off with a clean single to left and on a perfectly executed hit and run the "Flyin' Hawaiian" Shane Victorino doubled to right center to easily score Rollins.  Reliever Alvin Jackson recovered nicely by striking out the rest of the side (Utley, Werth & Howard), but the damage had already been done.  Since Brad Lidge already pitched the 9th the chore of closing would fall on the shoulders of J.A. Happ and Clay Condrey.  Happ got Brock to line out to right, but Julian Javier doubled to the power alley in left.  Curt Flood was given an intentional pass to create a force on all the bases except home.  Condrey was brought on to face MVP candidate Cepeda and Ed Spiezio.  Condrey got the best of Cepeda as the Baby Bull flew out to left.  Lefty Bobby Tolan was called on to pinch hit for Spiezio and ended the game with one swing by flying out weakly to Victorino in center.

9/12- Citizens Bank Ballpark
GAME 3 - Phillies 3, Cardinals 0
"Old Man River" Jamie Moyer threw his cutter to perfection over 7 innings as he scattered 5 hits and allowed no runs.  J.C. Romero and Ryan Madson shared duties for a scoreless 8th and Brad "Mr. Perfect" Lidge notched his 7th save with a perfect 9th.  The Phightins scored 2 quick runs in the 1st off of Cardinal starter Ray Washburn when Ryan Howard launched a 2 out / 2 run homer to left center.  Washburn would settle down until the 6th when he became his own worst enemy by booting a grounder back to the box, then airmailing it into the expensive seats, which allowed J-Roll to reach second with 1 out.  Victorino hit behind the runner by grounding out to second to advance Rollins to 3rd and Chase Utley provided the all important insurance run with a clean single to right.