Top 5 forgotten Phillies plays that led to 2008 World Series championship

Top likely forgotten, yet crucial Philadelphia Phillies plays in 2008 World Series.

Every Philadelphia Phillies fan will always remember the 2008 World Series and the many crucial plays that helped the franchise secure its second-ever championship.

Who could forget the Geoff Jenkins leadoff double and Chase Utley’s deke throw to home in Game 5, or even Joe Blanton’s unexpected home run in Game 4? And, of course, Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske for the final out — preserving his perfect season and bringing the 28-year Phillies championship drought to an official end.

Even with these iconic plays, there are actually several more that were made in the series that greater increased the Phillies’ Championship Win Probability Added, or cWPA. Many of these important plays have been overshadowed, if not forgotten. Here are the top five, ranked in order of most to least cWPA.

1. Game 3: Wild pitch, error allows Eric Bruntlett to advance to third base.

Championship Win Probability Added: 8.26%

With the series evened, the Phillies entered the ninth inning of Game 3 in danger of falling behind two games to one in the series. Yet, southpaw reliever J.C. Romero shut the Rays down in order, striking catcher Dioner Navarro out swinging and forcing groundouts from Gabe Gross and Jason Bartlett.

Momentum kept swinging in the Phillies favor the next half-inning, and ultimately, the series. J.P. Howell began the latter half of the ninth inning by hitting Eric Bruntlett by a pitch. Grant Balfour entered in relief, but a wild pitch and an errant through from Navarro to second base allowed Bruntlett to advance to third base with nobody out.

Balfour intentionally walked Shane Victorino and Greg Dobbs to load the bases. Then came Carlos Ruiz to produce walk-off heroics:

Bruntlett advancing from first to third base with nobody out — during the bottom of the ninth inning of a then-tied game and series — is the play that improved the Phillies’ probability of winning the 2008 World Series the most.

2. Game 4: Ryan Howard puts Phillies ahead big with 3-run home run.

Championship Win Probability Added: 7.17%

The Phillies got ahead to an early 2-0 lead in Game 4 of the 2008 World Series, but a Carl Crawford solo home run in the top of the fourth cut their lead in half. In the next half-inning, first baseman Ryan Howard almost single-handedly ensured the Rays would not complete the comeback.

Facing right-hander Andy Sonnanstine, eventual franchise hits leader Jimmy Rollins reached first to begin the bottom of the fourth thanks to the second of two errors in the game made by second baseman Akinori Iwamura. After walking Jayson Werth and striking out Chase Utley, Sonnanstine made a pitch to the “Big Piece” he surely still regrets to this day:

Howard’s clutch, three-run home run put the Phillies ahead 5-1. They would go on to win,10-2, thanks to Joe Blanton, Werth and Howard (again) all going yard to add onto the rout.

The Phillies went ahead three games to one in the series, with Howard producing perhaps a career-highlight night: 3-for-4 with two home runs and five runs batted in. The slugger went on to tell reporters after the game that his performance on baseball’s biggest stage was “the kind of stuff you dream about as a kid.”

According to the Championship Win Probability Added statistic, Howard’s first of two home runs in the game (three-run HR) is the second-most impactful play of the overall series that led to the team’s World Series victory.

The following evening would be the first half of the unforgettable Game 5.

4. Game 1: Chase Utley sets the tone early with 2-run home run.

Championship Win Probability Added: 5.07%

The Phillies were playing in their first World Series game in 15 years, but seemed as if they were Fall Classic regulars by the way they started Game 1.

After Jimmy Rollins flew out, Jayson Werth worked a one-out, six-pitch walk in the top of the first opposite Scott Kazmir. Then came second baseman Chase Utley with a clutch two-run home run:

This would mark Utley’s first of seven career World Series home runs in a Phillies uniform. Considering the Rays had just defeated the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series by playing all seven games, Utley’s first-inning home run set the tone early that the Phillies were there to compete.

5. Game 5: Shane Victorino gives Phillies first runs in eventual clincher.

Championship Win Probability Added: 4.60%

Utley gave the Phillies an early 2-0 lead in the series opener. Shane Victorino did just the same in the first of two nights in the series clincher, albeit not via the long ball.

Again facing Kazmir, the Flyin’ Hawaiian hit a line drive, two-out RBI single to left field — scoring Werth and Utley from scoring position after they respectively reached with a walk and hit-by-pitch.

The Rays eventually tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the sixth, before the game was suspended due to inclement weather. Had it not been for Victorino’s early two-RBI single, the Rays just might have been handed an unprecedented win in a rain-shortened game.

There are many great plays to look back on fondly from the 2008 World Series, some more memorable and impactful than others. These five plays might not come to mind first, but surely, they made all the difference to secure a parade down Broad Street.