Phillies Win Game 1 of 2008 World Series
October 22, 2008 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under News, Playoffs
The Philadelphia Phillies left the Tampa Bay Rays baffled in Game 1.
Although the Tampa Bay Rays were favored to not only win the game but win the series, the Philadelphia Phillies were able to draw first blood in the 2008 World Series. With a 3-2 victory, the Phillies need just three more victories to be crowned the 2008 baseball champions.
The star for the Phillies on Wednesday night was starting pitcher Cole Hamels. In seven very solid innings, Hamels gave up only two earned runs while striking out five Rays. Brad Lidge notched the save to remain perfect in save opportunities this year.
At the plate, the big hit for the Phillies was provided by Chase Utley. His two-run homer in the first inning gave the Phillies a lead they would never relinquish. On the game, Utley was 2-4 with a walk.
On the other side of the diamond, the favored Rays just couldn’t get a rally going against Hamels and the Phillies bullpen. The only batter who had success was Akinori Iwamura, who was 3-4 with an RBI.
Game 2 on the World Series schedule is to be played at 8PM Eastern in Tampa Bay.
Rays in 7.
Phillies in six. The Rays were unstoppable when they were everyone’s favorite underdog, but like so many young teams they don’t handle high expectations well. They stormed out in front of the Sox, the world jumped onto their bandwagon up 3-1, and they started choking in games until it was 3-3. By game 7 everyone figured they were done for and they got their swagger back. Same deal here. They are coming in as favorites, but they aren’t going to look like the team people have seen in the last few weeks until they fall so far behind in this series that people stop picking them. By then it’s too late.
I am watching off and on, flipping back and forth,but I admit, there is no real interest in this series for me. I am a baseball fan, but neither of these teams is a big draw for me, this years WS is rather dull.
The Phillies are going all the way!!