Ten years ago today, Ryan Howard propelled the eventual World Series-bound Phillies deeper into the postseason after telling teammates, “Get me to the plate, boys.”
Three-time All-Star, 2005 Rookie of the Year and 2006 Most Valuable Player Ryan Howard had many exciting moments during his 13-year career — all while donning red pinstripes.
After slugging a league-best 58 home runs and 149 RBI during his MVP season, one would think it would be hard for the St. Louis, Missouri, native to produce a more memorable, career-defining moment.
Yet, in the 2009 postseason, he did.
The Phillies were making their third straight playoff run, and were coming off of just their second World Series championship in franchise history.
The reigning champions stormed into the 2009 NLDS on a high note, topping the Colorado Rockies, 5-1. The Rockies and Phillies split the next two games, winning by one-run margins in their opposing team’s stadium.
In Game 4 at Coors Field in Colorado, the Phillies led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth, and were just a few outs away from clinching their fourth straight postseason series.
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Cliff Lee dazzled leading up to the frame, having allowed only one run — a RBI double off the bat of Troy Tulowitzki in the sixth.
With a runners on first and second and one out, the Phillies substituted in Ryan Madson. While Madson prevented Tulowitzki from doing damage again (fly out), he was able to escape the inning unscathed. The next two Rockies batters, Jason Giambi and Yorvit Torrealba, respectively produced a RBI single and two-RBI double, giving them a 4-2 lead.
The Phillies would have just three more outs remaining on offense to comeback, or it meant a winner-take-all, Game 5 matchup back in Philadelphia.
Then, “Get me to the plate, boys” happened.
Cliff Lee: Ryan Howard said get me to the plate boys while walking in the dugout during the 9th. #Phillies
— Andrew Zuckerman (@A_Zuckerman) October 13, 2009
After Chase Utley with two outs to put runners on first and second, Howard answered Torrealba’s clutch hit with a two-RBI double of his own.
Howard, the fifth batter in the inning, told teammates to simply “get him to the plate,” and they did. Jayson Werth would follow with a go-ahead, and eventual-game-winning RBI single to score Howard.
Brad Lidge shut the door in the ninth by striking out Tulowitzki for the final out and the one-out save.
It’s hard to imagine that without Howard’s clutch, two-out hit, the Phillies and Rockies would have played a Game 5, series-deciding game back in Philadelphia. As we saw in the 2011 NLDS, anything is possible in such a game.
Had it not been for Howard’s heroics, the Phillies-New York Yankees 2009 World Series matchup may have never happened.