NLCS Gameday: Dodgers at Phillies, Game 4
Posted by Pat Gallen, Mon, October 19, 2009 06:37 PM | Comments: 550
Gameday 2009, Posts
Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2) at Philadelphia Phillies (2-1) 
Randy Wolf, LHP vs. Joe Blanton, RHP
Time: 8:07 p.m at Citizens Bank Park
Weather: Clear, 44
TV: TBS
Twitter: Phillies Nation
Ho-Lee smokes. That was some sort of outing, eh?
Cliff Lee absolutely dominated the L.A. Dodgers last night at CBP, firing an eight-inning gem to put the Phils up 2-1 in the NLCS. His performance was one of the finest in Phillies history.
Joe Blanton doesn’t have to repeat last night’s outing, but no one would mind if he did. Although he has not started a game since October 2 against Florida, Blanton has toed the rubber twice during the playoffs, with both appearances coming against Colorado in relief. Last postseason against the Dodgers, Blanton was decent, giving up three earned runs over five innings in the Game 4 victory. A repeat performance of that would be just fine tonight. And if Blanton comes up big, the Phillies will be in control of this series.
Standing in the way of that is an old Philly favorite. Randy Wolf will face off against the Phils for the fourth time in his career, but the first in the playoffs as a member of the Dodgers. Wolf is 1-1 against his former club in 2009, with two very different games. On May 13 in Philadelphia, Wolf was brilliant, striking out eight over six-innings, allowing just one earned run. On June 7, the Phils traveled to L.A. and knocked him around for six earned over 6 1/3. Which Wolfie will we see tonight? Hopefully the latter.
Amazingly, Pedro Feliz has owned Randy Wolf in his career. Feliz is 5-for-17 against Wolf with three homers. However, on the flip side, Ryan Howard has been awful against the junkball-throwing lefty. The Big Piece is just 1-for-9 with four punchouts in his career.
Blanton has been good against Matt Kemp (2-for-11) and Casey Blake (1-for-21) during his career, but awful against Manny Ramirez (14-for 25, HR, 8 RBI) and James Loney (5-for-8).
A commanding 3-games-to-1 lead is on the line tonight in South Philly, and it’s up to Joe Blanton to keep the ball rolling.
Tonight’s Lineup: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Feliz (3B), Ruiz (C), Blanton (P).
Your Gameday Beer – Sierra Nevada Porter
Sierra Nevada Porter doesn’t have the same malt taste as other beers from the brewery. It has a smoky flavor with hints of dark chocolate in the aftertaste. It is remarkably smooth and an overall great tasting genuine porter. This should keep you nice and warm on this chilly October evening. For dinner tonight: Steak. – By Pat
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
It’s a whole new ballgame… let’s start over.
Posted: 09:20 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Why isn’t he throwing more sliders to the right handers.
Posted: 09:21 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 FillyP
TBS announcers are garbage. They can hardly contain their excitement for LA, especially Carey. Glad I was at the park last night and didn’t have to listen to them.
And to “phans” that are starting to panic – it’s 2-2. You didn’t expect another 11-0 game, did you? Keep your cool. It’s a tie ball game.
We’re the F I G H T I N S!!
Posted: 09:23 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
@Cruzin: Yeah, I remember seeing it in a Dave Barry column!
Posted: 09:23 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
Gotta be patient with Wolf! Make him throw the fastball for a strike!
Posted: 09:23 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Harry Kalas
Exactly…………
Posted: 09:24 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Why would you be so quick to go to Happ? He hasn’t exactly looked good. 3 ER, 4 walks in 3 and a third innings in the post season.
Posted: 09:25 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
That was a strike?
Posted: 09:26 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
Why aren’t they showing any of these Wolf pitches on pitchtrax
Did you notice they completely stopped using it… wonder if MLB told them to stop because it is totally different than the umps strike zone.
Posted: 09:26 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Harry Kalas
Wolf is Moyer with an 8mph jump in his fastball. They’re bailing him out. Especially Rollins and Vic in the 3rd.
Posted: 09:27 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Met Horror – really? I didn’t notice. Interesting.
Posted: 09:30 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Harry Kalas
and Utley… These umps continue to be all over the place.
Posted: 09:30 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Okay, so now we’ll see if Blanton’s recovered his focus.
Posted: 09:30 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
Those announcers can spin it any way they want, fact is Torre f’d up his starting rotation for this series.
Ok, not sure where TBS gets its demographic info, but you’d think we’re all a bunch of greying, impotent, incontinent old men.
Posted: 09:30 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Phils Phan
Utley is swinging at some garbage, though. He has been down for a while.
These announcers need to get off the tying the series talk. Thinking positive thoughts, douches?
Posted: 09:31 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
I don’t think it’s that far fetched but we’ve all seen how many strikes that have popped up for either side that were called balls.
Posted: 09:31 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Phils Phan
Also, Blanton is having trouble sitting guys now. Too many two-strike losses. (And now he gets one.)
Posted: 09:31 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
New drinking game! Take a drink every time you see Craig Sager wearing a ridiculous suit!
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 bob.
Settle back in Blanton, come on
Posted: 09:32 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 chuckS
The ump and the tbs guys are really starting to irrate me
Posted: 09:33 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
Why is there always some chump in every sport that feels the need to make ridiculous suits that are not professional in any way their trademark. Who’s that guy in hockey… Don Cherry?
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
ugh now we’re losing.
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
shiiiiiiiit
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
argh
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 chuckS
wow don’t blow a load tbs guys
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Damn it Joe. Talk about a meat ball.
Posted: 09:34 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
Danggggg
Posted: 09:35 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
Filthy change to go 0-2. Throw more of those, Joseph, won’t you?
Posted: 09:35 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
Let’s go OFFENSE!!
Posted: 09:35 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
Ibanez, Feliz, and Ruiz. let’s get that run back & more!
Posted: 09:35 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
OK Phils: Time to get serious!
Posted: 09:36 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Phils Phan
Eh, let’s get 7 serviceable out of Blanton. This looks to be two games with Phillies hitters not being able to hit scrub-quality former Phillie pitchers.
Posted: 09:36 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 bob.
Looks like our bullpen is gonna have to do the job tonight.
Lets go offense, pick it up!! Stop making Randy Wolf look like CY Young
Posted: 09:36 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
No reason why they can’t start getting to Wolf, let’s turn his neck a pretty shade of scarlet red.
Posted: 09:37 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed R.
Count down to the Dodgers trolls showing up begins now…
Posted: 09:37 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
Ya I can’t wait for those Dodgers chumps to get back.
Posted: 09:38 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike D.
“Mike D. Says:
October 19th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Blanton will be fine. Even if he trails – and I’ve a feeling he will because Steve Phillips said on ESPN that Wolf is apparently excellent against lefties with his high fastball – he’ll keep it close enough that we’ll come back and win it. Maybe my prediction for Lidge getting the win will come true.”
Half my prediction has come true. Time for the Phils to make the other half true.
Posted: 09:39 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
Randy Wolf looks untouchable right now.
Posted: 09:39 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
Dodger BLEW…. where are you?
Posted: 09:39 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Keith
well this inning doesn’t look promising at all.
Posted: 09:40 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
C’mon Feliz!!!!! Enough with the swinging at the first pitch!!!
Posted: 09:40 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Georgie
Wolf looks like a younger Ron Howard.
Posted: 09:40 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Phils Phan
Feliz really, really is a batting liability.
Posted: 09:40 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Harry Kalas
Not time to panic……. Unfortun. the Phils think otherwise
Posted: 09:40 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 Andrew
Patience at the plate, c’mon!
Posted: 09:41 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 FillyP
We’re in striking distance. If Joe delivers another inn or two with only one more ER, I’d say we’re in a great position. We’re just as capable, if not more so, of stealing one as the Dodgers. This team won’t give up.
LET’S GO PHILS!!
Posted: 09:41 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
man you could set your watch to Pedro Feliz
Posted: 09:41 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 cas
Well, it looks like we shot our wad for the night and are now done. Here’s hoping our diva can get his head straight enough to win Wednesday night, or it’s lights out in LA on Friday. No way can we win two there. (And, if I’m wrong, I’m ecstatic!)
Posted: 09:42 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Georgie – your right, he does but with a little more heft
Posted: 09:42 PM on October 19, 2009
Posts: 0 A Detectible Met Horror
yet again… a close pitch where they didn’t show pitchtrax… I promise you MLB told TBS to stop using it.
Posted: 09:43 PM on October 19, 2009