PHILADELPHIA (AP) – It’s a tie game, they’re playing at home and the Philadelphia Phillies get to bat first and last – if they need it.
The Phillies’ quest for their second World Series championship in 126 years comes down to this: Outscore the Tampa Bay Rays over 3 1/2 innings and break out the champagne.
“We’ll come to the ballpark concentrating on winning the game,” manager Charlie Manuel said during a conference call Tuesday afternoon. “We’ve got 12 outs to go and they’ve got nine. We control our own destiny. It’s up to us to stay focused and win tomorrow’s game. It’s in our hands. It’s up to us to do it.”
Game 5 of this soggy Series was suspended because of rain after 5 1/2 innings Monday night. Carlos Pena’s two-out RBI single off Cole Hamels tied it at 2 in the top of the sixth, and the game was stopped before the Phillies came to the plate in the bottom half. The game is scheduled to resume in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
Hamels still can earn his fifth postseason win, but he’ll be watching from the dugout when a pinch-hitter bats for him leading off the inning. Manuel has an extra 24 hours to choose a hitter. If right-hander Grant Balfour remains on the mound, Manuel will go to one of his three lefties on the bench. Of course, Rays manager Joe Maddon probably would counter with a southpaw out of the bullpen. Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth are due up next.
“We’ll see how the game develops, what goes on,” Manuel said.
No matter what happens when the Phillies bat, Manuel plans to turn the game over to his relievers in the seventh. He’ll keep Brett Myers on schedule to start Game 6 if needed. Hamels likely would start Game 7 on either three days’ rest or regular rest – depending on whether Thursday becomes a travel day or not.
The Phillies can make that a moot point by finishing off the Rays in five games and giving this desperate city it’s first championship since the NBA’s 76ers won it all 25 years ago.
“We don’t need to talk about Hamels’ situation yet because we’re looking forward to playing tomorrow,” Manuel said. “We’ve got time to take care of all those things.”
Losing Hamels after the ace lefty threw just 75 pitches Monday is cushioned by Philadelphia’s strong bullpen. The Phillies led the NL in bullpen ERA at 3.22 and winning percentage (.589) during the regular season, and have been lights out in the World Series.
o hits in 8 2-3 innings against the Rays. Closer Brad Lidge hasn’t been used since earning his 47th save in 47 chances in Game 1. Ryan Madson or Chad Durbin could get the call to pitch the seventh. If there’s a lead to protect, Lidge might even enter in the eighth.
“I have faith in our bullpen,” Manuel said. “We’ve got three innings to go, and I think our bullpen can definitely do the job.”
The Phillies need their offense to start delivering with runners on base. They left nine on in the first five innings Monday night, including the bases loaded twice.
Shane Victorino’s two-run single in the first was the only scoring off Rays starter Scott Kazmir, who lasted four shaky innings. The Phillies were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and now are 8-for-57 with RISP in the Series.
Chase Utley has two homers, but only one other hit in 17 at-bats. Pat Burrell remains hitless in 13 at-bats, though he’s walked five times.
Utley and Ryan Howard, who hit three homers in the last two games, probably won’t see another righty in Game 5. Maddon has left-handers J.P. Howell, David Price and Trever Miller available to face them.
“We’re going to have rested bullpens, people have rested starters for games in the future,” Maddon said. “All that stuff is in order. It’s just going to come down, obviously, to 3 1/2 innings to play. Hopefully that’s all it’s going to take.”
There’s a chance the Phillies won’t be playing in front of a packed crowd when the game resumes. Fans holding tickets for Game 5 can re-enter Citizens Bank Park, but anyone foolish enough to toss those tickets away during the rainy mess will be stuck outside.
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