The 2008 Phandom 25: Beat The Mets
Last year I wrote a series of posts chronicling 2007’s 20 greatest moments in Phillies Phandom. Each game had a special “wow” factor, whether it was an insane comeback, an awesome feat or a trademark moment. And each game was a Phillies win, of course.
For this year, clearly, you know the top moment. But ranking the rest was very difficult. Do I rank the NLCS second just because? Is the NL East clinching victory as important as other postseason moments? I used some heavy discretion, but I believe I came up with a pretty solid list.
Each moment has an attached video link, if you’d like to go back and reminisce.
Like the 100 Greatest Phillies countdown, I’ll be posting one per day. I swear, you won’t get any more countdowns this offseason.
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14. So beautiful!
Date: July 22, 2008
It seems every time the Phillies play the Mets, they show up for 27 outs. And July 22, 2008 was no different.
The Mets threw Johan Santana out there against the Phils, and the ace delivered, as usual. He went eight innings, baffling the Phils for much of the night through two runs and eight hits. One came early — three consecutive singles brought a run home in the first. The second came late — Shane Victorino homered. But at that point it was 5-2. Tough to come back from that off Santana. Meanwhile, Joe Blanton made his first start for the Phillies, but struggled enough to be down so much.
Facing the top of the Phils lineup in the eighth, Santana had his way, surrendering only a double to Pat Burrell. With the three-run lead going into the ninth, Mets manager Jerry Manuel turned to his bullpen. Bad, bad move.
Duaner Sanchez was first in. Jayson Werth was first up. Single. Then pinch hitter Greg Dobbs. Single. Then Victorino. Single. Now it was interesting — bases loaded, no outs. Joe Smith was coming in.
That brought up Carlos Ruiz. He chopped one to Jose Reyes, who awkwardly decided to step on second to attempt a double play. But Reyes’ hesitation cost him, as Victorino slid in on time, kipped up, clapped and howled. Werth came across. 5-3.
Next was So Taguchi. And boy, did So come through, ripping a ball over Endy Chavez’s head to plate two and tie the game. As the ball got in to the diamond, Victorino stood valiantly at home, a conqueror and personification of his team’s fighting spirit.
In came Pedro Feliciano. And next was Jimmy Rollins. Smash down the left field line for a double, scoring two. The Phils led it 7-5. Confident? You bet they were.
Chase Utley followed with a groundout, and Burrell was walked to set up the double play. But Ryan Howard kept it going. He grounded one right to Feliciano, but the reliever bobbled the ball, canceling the double play and only getting one out. After Werth walked, Dobbs popped out. The damage was done — 8-5 Phillies. A complete turnaround in a matter of 15 minutes.
Brad Lidge entered for the save, and though he let in a run, he shut down the Mets with a couple groundouts. The Phils won, 8-6, one of their best comebacks of the season, and yet another rub in the face of the New York Mets.
The video: The Phils come back with six in the ninth
From the comments:
RiVLeZ: WOW Thank you Sanchez!
Gnomicide: Is Taguchi really the answer in this situation?
JoseJoseJoseJose!: this is fucking september all over again. i’m going to vomit
danny: They just showed Santana on the bench taking shots of Jack Daniels
fred: Just listen to that booing. That’s sweet music ! Goodnight gentlemen, see you tommorow
