Phils Win in 10; End Season on High Note

Well that’s all she wrote.  The Philadelphia Phillies 2009 regular season has come to a close, and as a team they’ve dealt with the ups and downs that come with a 162-game schedule.

In the finale, the regulars were strapped to the pine for the most part, as all of the starters, save Jayson Werth, sat down.  In what was clearly a meaningless game to both teams, the Phillies and Marlins decided to extend the already lengthy season by just one more inning.  With the two men on and two outs in the bottom of the 10^th inning, Paul Hoover singled in John Mayberry Jr. to give the Phillies a 7-6 victory.

J.A. Happ began the game but threw just 39 pitches over two innings as Charlie Manuel gives him some rest to prepare for the postseason.  Seven other pitchers combined to finish off the game for the Phillies, with Chad Durbin getting the win.

The Phillies finish the 2009 campaign with a 93-69 record, the most wins for the franchise since 1993 when the won 97 games.  They jump into the postseason with a victory, however insignificant that may be.  Now all that is left to do is set the postseason roster and start the run back to the World Series.

In the NLDS, the Phillies will face off against the Colorado Rockies, the same team that swept the Phils in the opening round in 2007.  The Rox started the season off with a dud, causing them to fire manager Clint Hurdle.  Jim Tracy took over and the Rockies never looked back, going 74-41 since his promotion.  Two seasons ago, Colorado was hot going into the postseason and used that to catapult them into the World Series, where they were swept by the Red Sox.

It was a hell of a year for the Phillies, as they again eclipsed the 90-win plateau.  But now, with a World Championship already in the bag, the expectations are higher than they have ever been.  Anything less than another title will be considered somewhat of a disappointment for fans who long to see a dynasty built in Philadelphia.  The second season starts Wednesday here in Philly.  You have two days to rest, and then the fun begins once again.