What a difference two seasons makes. In 2007, the Phillies were pumped up and ready to go after making the playoffs for the first time in 14 years but were quickly swept 3-0 by the Colorado Rockies in their 2007 NLDS matchup.
A 2008 World Series title (and much more playoff experience) later, the Phillies began the defense of that title the way they began every series during their 2008 playoff run—with a win. The Phillies defeated the Rockies 5-1 before 46,452 rally-towel waving fans, the largest crowd ever at Citizens Bank Park.
Initially it looked like the Rockies might score first. Carlos Gonzalez lined a one-out single to left, and Todd Helton followed with a ground ball down the first base line that at first looked like a double play in the making, but the ball wasn’t hit very sharply and Ryan Howard decided to take the sure out at first, then throw to try to get Gonzalez at second. His throw squirted through Jimmy Rollins and into shallow left, but not far enough for Gonzalez to advance.
Troy Tulowitzki followed with a dribbler just past the pitcher’s mound which Chase Utley couldn’t get to quickly enough, and realizing that, he fired the ball to third in an attempt to get Gonzalez rounding the bag. Utley’s throw got away from Pedro Feliz, but again not far enough for Gonzalez to advance. Garrett Atkins then flew out to shallow center on a nice play by Shane Victorino, who had to fight the sun and wind to finally bring the ball safely in.
The Phillies went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first. In the top of the second, the Rockies’ Yorvit Torrealba doubled down the third base line off the glove of Pedro Feliz and into left field. One out later, Clint Barmes flew out to Jayson Werth, who gunned down Torrealba at third on a close play (although replays seemed to indicate Torrealba’s foot had beaten the tag).
Werth lined a single to left in the bottom of the second with one out, but Raul Ibanez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Both teams continued to struggle generating much offense until the bottom of the fifth. Jayson Werth walked and was doubled home by Raul Ibanez’ liner down the first base line. Werth raced across the plate to put the Phillies up 1-0 and was greeted with a sea of hi-fives as he disappeared into the dugout.
One out later, Carlos Ruiz singled Ibanez home to make it 2-0. Although the Phillies didn’t add more runs, they wore out starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez by forcing him to throw 35 pitches in the inning, pushing his game total to 81 after 5 innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Phillies struck again. Chase Utley lined a single to right and stole second, continuing the amazing success he had during the regular season (23 steals without being caught). Ryan Howard doubled Utley home to make it 3-0 and Jayson Werth tripled home Howard to extend the lead to 4-0, chasing Jimenez in the process. Raul Ibanez singled off reliever Joe Beimel to score Werth and swell the Phillies’ lead to 5-0.
Meanwhile, any doubts about whether or not Cliff Lee was a good choice to start the series for the Phillies continued to be erased, pitch by pitch, as he retired 16 Rockies in a row at one point, a streak ended by a two-out double to right by Garrett Atkins. The Rockies managed to break the shutout in the top of the ninth with a Carlos Gonzalez single and Troy Tulowitzki double, but Lee struck out Garrett Atkins on his 113th pitch of the afternoon to seal the 5-1 win. Overall Lee gave up just six hits and didn’t walk a batter.
The Phillies will try to build a 2-0 series lead Thursday afternoon when last year’s playoff ace Cole Hamels (10-11, 4.32) takes the mound against the Rockies’ Aaron Cook (11-6, 4.16).
