Categories: 2009 RecapsPosts

Chooch Points The Way In 11-Inning Thriller

In a classic thriller, Carlos Ruiz busted a full-count, two-out double to hand the Phillies the 4-3 lead and eventual win in 11 innings over the Yankees.

The win capped a spectacular 8-2 road trip by the Fightins’, which ranks among some of the best road swings in franchise history. The game featured some clutch hitting — not just Ruiz, who went 3-for-4 to end up at .302 on the season (and blocked the plate despite Johnny Damon trying to will the ball free in a great out call), but also by Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino in a two-run third. And of course, by Raul Ibanez, who struck an RBI double in the sixth.

Cole Hamels had a solid start, battling with patient Yankee hitters all day for a line of 6 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 5 K. Chad Durbin and Ryan Madson were masterful once again, with Scott Eyre grabbing an out from Johnny Damon. But once again, Brad Lidge blew the save in the ninth, allowing a tough infield single score form stolen bases and a Melky Cabrera RBI single.

Clay Condrey battled through a potentially harrowing 10th, inducing a double play, intentionally walking Alex Rodriguez and making Ramiro Pena fly out. His 11th? Much easier.

Face it: This was a classic game, ending a classic series between two eerily even teams. This was October baseball, in May.

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.