Time really does fly, especially in baseball. It has been almost two full decades since the Philadelphia Phillies last won a World Series, which almost doesn't seem possible. But here we are, in another October, taking trips down memory lane as other teams contend in the championship series.
But for Phillies fans, it's imperative to reminisce about the good times. There sure were a lot of them, and it's to those moments we must cling, as the current organization is in disarray.
So let's roll the tape on 'This Day in Phillies History', when the the team celebrated their NLCS clinching win over the might Los Angeles Dodgers on October 15, 2008.
Phillies' impressive 2008 NLCS against the Dodgers garnered momentum to World Series title
Philadelphia's 2008 World Series run was among the most dominant in recent memory. The Phillies handled the Milwaukee Brewers in four games in the NLDS, then dispatched the Dodgers in five in the NLCS.
On this day in Phillies history, the team took down Los Angeles, 5-1 on the road in Game 5 to clinch the pennant, marking their first National League title since 1993. Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a home run to right-center field off Chad Billingsley, coming off a career year in 2008 (3.14 ERA, 201 strikeouts).
Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell each had RBI singles in the third inning off Billingsley. Then, Philadelphia plated two more runs in the fifth inning on two errors by shortstop Rafael Furcal. It was an ugly night for the Dodgers' shortstop, who finished with three errors.
Baby-faced Cole Hamels, who boasted a 1.80 ERA in 35 postseason innings in 2008, was dominant for the Phillies. He allowed one run in seven innings, striking out five. Manny Ramirez's solo home run in the sixth inning was Los Angeles' only blemish on his line.
Ryadson and Brad Lidge each threw scoreless innings in relief following Hamels' gem. Lidge got the final out on a Nomar Garciaparra pop-up in foul territory, caught by Carlos Ruiz up the third-base line.
Seven pitchers appeared for the Dodgers, including Greg Maddux in two relief frames. He allowed two unearned runs and struck out three batters. It was the final appearance in the 42-year-old's Hall of Fame career.
The Phillies went on to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays in five games in the 2008 World Series, capping a remarkable postseason run.
Add us as a preferred source on Google