Grand Finale! Slam Caps Incredible Comeback
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, April 24, 2009 10:45 PM | Comments: 26
2009 Recaps, Posts
It had all the trappings of Thursday’s horrific offensive performance. Instead, the boys woke up. And just in the Vic of time.
Shane Victorino nailed a two-out grand slam in the ninth inning to lead the Phillies to a 7-3 win over the first-place Marlins. The salami came after an RBI single by Matt Stairs and bases-loaded walk by Jimmy Rollins. Chase Utley added a solo shot after Victorino to cap the scoring. And what a way to end it.
The Phils were listless before that ninth, garnering only three hits and two walks off Marlins starter Josh Johnson in his seven innings. On the other side, Brett Myers surrendered a three-run home run against Dan Uggla (the Phils are now at 15 games with an opposing home run). He locked in after that despite 14 baserunners in six innings.
Clay Condrey grabbed the win with two hitless frames. Ryan Madson pitched a tense but winning ninth.
Posts: 0 jmus97
did you think it would end any other way.. actually i had matt stairs tabbed in for a long ball once he got his count, but i’ll take a vic salami any day of the week
Posted: 11:02 PM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Tom G
Could this be the beginning of the turn-around? Only if the pitching decides to show up regularly, and the clutch hitting finds a home…
J-ROL, needs to settle things down with a strong May…
Howard needs to find a sluggers touch…
Hamels, needs to pitch like an ACE…
Lidge needs to through darts…
OK…Let’s go PHILS!!!
Posted: 11:05 PM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 BurrGundy
Great finish. One for the books. Very exciting. I have no fingernails left.
Posted: 11:10 PM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Amanda
What happended? I texted for the score and it was 3-0 in the 9th. Next thing I know they win 7-3. Sounds like it was a great game. Stairs and Vic with big hits. Huge win. They need to win two in a row now with no distactions and get on a roll.
Posted: 11:32 PM on April 24, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg V.
You know what was interesting about the 9th was how patient the Phils seemed at the plate all of a sudden! They were looking at pitches and being very conservative. The whole game they looked like they were trying too hard only to settle down and do what they do best in the 9th! Really nice win tonight! Props to Myers. It wasn’t pretty but he kept them in the game. Condrey pitched two lights out innings, proving to be a nice spark in the bullpen (which I for one have always felt he was) and Madson for making it interesting but securing the victory! Hopefully this is the start of something good!
Posted: 01:33 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Mazinman
What an inning! I love it how Matt Stairs is proving everyone who thought we should get rid of him in the off season wrong. He is definately turning into one of the more clutch players off that bench. Victorino certainly has a flair for dramatic homers and Utley pouring some salt in the wound afterwards was nice too. Definately a good message that we are not just going to give away our title just yet.
Posted: 02:38 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Axe
How about Madson. The kid is throwing heat. I think I saw the gun displaying 96mph, and I remember in the WS he may have been throwing harder. I think he “gets all hopped on dew” before he comes in.
Posted: 06:08 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed
On a side note, not sure how many people listen to ESPN radio, I do. I am a big Colin Cowherd and Scott Van Pelt fan. Anyway, Cowherd was talking about different sports cities and fans and he said, and I am paraphrasing here but that Raiders and Mets are the worst fans when it comes to having an over estimated view of their team and their own self worth as fans. Now keep in mind this is a guy who A. Is from Seattle. B. Lives in Connecticut and C. Works for ESPN where you pretty much have to say nice things about the Sox, Yanks, Mets and Cubs.
Just found it interesting.
Posted: 08:02 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed
Oh yeah….GREAT COMEBACK BY THE PHITINS!!
Posted: 08:02 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 OZ
was there….8 unbearable innings, then Wha-laa!
Marlins fans around us were all really good folks. stay classy South Florida.
Posted: 08:08 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed
Now by fans do you mean the dogs or the people?
Posted: 08:25 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
@OZ; I was at a Dolphins game several years back. I am a Seahawks fan and was sitting and cheering for the Seahawks and the Dolphins fans were also a classy bunch of people. Eagles fans could take a lesson here. (not trying to start a fight just stating an observation)
As for the Phils, I thought they were going down. How about an early lead once in a while?
Posted: 08:53 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Tyler
keith… we dont want an early lead… look wat happened wen we were up 6 on the pads
Posted: 10:37 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
OZ and Keith, why generalize all Phill fans as need to take a lesson. Have you never been to a game in NY/NJ, or maybe Cincinatti. It sounds like you both need a lesson here. Generalizations dont work. Philly has there bad fans, but they also have their good fans. Florida has there good fans, but guess what, they also have there BAD fans.
Posted: 10:40 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 peasant
i only watched the end of the game because Josh Johnson seems be having a career year, and i’d heard the Marlin’s bullpen is considered their weakness.. seems to be true…
Posted: 10:43 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Doug D.
Fantastic 9th inning. Once again, the Phils feast on the opposition’s bullpen after doing nothing against their starter. Jimmy and Shane are still swinging at high cheese. They’re little guys. They need to generate power with their legs. Hitting the high pitch is all upper-body, and they don’t have enough upper-body strength to hit those pitches out. Their happy zones are middle or in, belt-to-thigh high. Just look at the video of Shane’s salami last night. Middle-in, belt-high fastball…and see ya’. In fact, the only ones in our line-up who can effectively hit the letter-high pitch is Raul. What did Gary Matthews say last season? to paraphrase, he said that you swing at high curve balls and low fast balls, not the other way around…Myers just can’t figure out his 1st inning woes. It’s maddening. This happens with a lot of starters. Brett has a “high motor” and a boxer’s mentality. He comes in all amped-up, but needs to keep enough in the tank for 6-7 innings. As a result, he underthrows his fastball, tossing it up there at 88-89 on the gun, when we know he can throw it effectively at 94-95 (like he did when closing in ’07). Also in the 1st, he overthrows his curve, leaving it up on the zone and very hittable. Maybe he needs to burn off some more of that excess adrenaline in the bullpen before he hits the mound. Or perhaps he could come in with 94-95 mph heaters for a couple of batters “just to take the edge off” before settling into his starter-mode. And for the same reason, I don’t know what the hell he’s thinking of by throwing changeups in the 1st. Isn’t that is 4th best pitch? I wonder how many times he shook of Marson before throwing that lollipop up there. Remember Brett, don’t think, just throw. I think your new Delta name should be Nuke.
Posted: 10:44 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
This guy johnson when healthy is as good as cole. That is the reason I posted the marlins are for real. They need a consistent eighth and closer. Which if you follow there history if they are close they will deal for what they need and they have the farm to do it and next year. When they can’t afford them they will deal for good prospects. I love there scouts and front office. But I am a phillies fan and wish the phillies would have got lowe and let moyer walk and traded blanton.
Posted: 10:45 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
mikemike, only problem with Lowe. When Gillick built this team, he did exactly that, built a team with team personalities. Lowe has to much of an “I am awesome” (emphasize I) mentality. I am glad they didnt sign him. Moyer still goes out there and give the Phils a chance to win. The other day he only gave up 3 in 6 innings. Thats not a quality start. Just because the starting pitching is extremely weak right now, doesnt mean we should say get rid of them, expecially considering Hamels has the highest ERA on the team right now (I think). They are starting off VERY slow, hopefully the SP’s will gove back to true form of 2008.
Posted: 10:55 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
sorry I meant for Moyer that IS a quality start.
Posted: 10:56 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Sean P.
Is that Lou Marson lasered in on Victorino’s butt, before he goes to slap it? lol… funny picture
Posted: 11:14 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Sean P, that is so freakin wrong man, buts its funny as hell. LMAO.
Posted: 11:24 AM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 ryan
is there a more clutch player in baseball than shane victorino? that guy is a pure gamer through and through. there isn’t a team in the big leagues that wouldn’t take him on their squad in a heartbeat.
Posted: 12:00 PM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 ryan
haha. marson is definitely slobbering over shane’s hiney
Posted: 12:03 PM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Brian of CO
Victorino does come up big for the Phightin Phils, but he and Stairs have a habit of coming up with key hits in pairs.
Posted: 12:43 PM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
That is funny, Lou looks like he’s debating whether he wants to slap it or grab a handful!
Posted: 01:00 PM on April 25, 2009
Posts: 0 maxhole
speaking of lou, does anyone else think he was jumping around a bit too much before many pitches last night? every time he wasnt set, myers threw away from the target. threw another guy out at least
Posted: 01:22 PM on April 25, 2009