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Bats Send Phils On Brink Of World Championship

They came alive, and at the perfect time.

The Phillies scored plenty to defeat the Rays, 10-2, in game four of the World Series. With the win, the Phillies lead the series 3-1, and are now one win away from their second world championship.

A tight game became a blowout thanks to some heavy hits. Ryan Howard was the big star, knocking two surefire homers and driving in five. Jayson Werth added a homer in the eighth. And, yes, Joe Blanton hit his first career home run.

Blanton pitched superb. He went six innings, giving up just two runs and striking out seven. He located all his pitches, never ever getting into much trouble while making the Rays look dead on arrival. The bullpen cleaned it up without a dent, per usual.

As well, the albatross known as “hitting with runners in scoring position” was lifted, as Pedro Feliz sliced a two-out RBI single in the third inning. And anything leftover was thrown to the trash when Howard struck his first bomb, a three-run dinger. When that ball landed, the game was over. It was the fourth inning. Things are looking very clear now, Phillies fans — guess what: We’re on the verge of a world championship.

Associated Press photo

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.