8. NLCS Home Run off Kershaw
The 2009 NLCS featured a rematch of the year’s prior series with the Dodgers and Phillies meeting once again. Game One was a battle of young lefties with the 21-year old Clayton Kershaw facing the 25-year old Cole Hamels. Hamels gave up a run in the second inning to give the Dodgers an early lead.
That lead lasted until the fifth when Philadelphia scored five runs in the top of the inning. Ruiz started off the scoring with a three-run home run, his second career postseason home run. Ryan Howard tacked on a two-run double later in the inning and from there the Phils had the lead the rest of the game.
7. 2009 NLCS Walk-Off
One of the greatest, yet underrated calls in Phillies history is the Scott Franzke 2009 NLCS walk-off. Let’s first lay out how we got to that great call. Former Phillie Randy Wolf starts for Los Angeles, and serves up a two-run home run to his former teammate Ryan Howard.
After Joe Blanton allows his typical four runs through six innings, the Phillies get two shutout innings from Chan-Ho Park and Ryan Madson. Scott Eyre and Brad
Scott Eyre and Brad Lidge work together to finish off the Dodgers in the ninth-inning, giving the offense an opportunity down 4-3 against our best friend Jonathan Broxton. Raul Ibanez grounds out, Matt Stairs walks and is replaced by Eric
Raul Ibanez grounds out, Matt Stairs walks and is replaced by Eric Bruntlett, and Ruiz is hit by a pitch. Jimmy Rollins then steps to the plate hitting .237 and rips a 1-1 pitch into the right-center field alley. Bruntlett and Ruiz score, and the game four of the NLCS ends euphorically.