With two outs and two on in the bottom of then ninth, the Phillies trailed by a run. Going up against Jonathan Broxton, Rollins lined a pitch into the outfield that easily scored both Eric Bruntlett and Carlos Ruiz. The 5-4 victory for the Phillies definitely had to take the winds out of the sails for the Dodgers.

Brad Lidge, who got two strikeouts in the top of the ninth, picked up a save. Broxton, who had 36 saves and an ERA of 2.61 in the regular season, got the loss.

The two teams play again on Wednesday. Vicente Padilla will go for the Dodgers, while the Phillies will try to close the series out with Cole Hamels.

Jimmy Rollins - Philadelphia Phillies (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Jimmy Rollins Hits Walk-Off Double

However, manager Charlie Manuel remain subdued. The manager of the reigning World Series champions has bigger goals in mind.

“I’ll celebrate,” said Manuel, “when we get to the big one.”

Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz all had two hits and Raul Ibanez hit his 34th home run of the season and finish the contest with three RBIs.

The news wasn’t all good for the Phillies on Wednesday though after the team learned that Jamie Moyer will miss the rest of the season and playoffs. Moyer has three torn groin and abdominal muscles that require surgery.

Next up for the Phillies is a date in the 2009 baseball playoffs. Can they win back-to-back World Series titles? Stay tuned to find out.

The Phillies will try to do it again (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Philadelphia Phillies Clinch the NL East

In five innings of work, Martinez gave up three earned runs, seven hits and one walk. He also struck out five batters while throwing 99 pitches.

After the game, Martinez talks about how happy he was with his performance.

Said Martinez: “It was really fun to actually get back to the game. Last year was a horrible year. It was a very tough year. I actually feel good and it shows.”

To give Martinez run support, the Phillies used the long ball. Ryan Howard hit a homer in the first inning. Shane Victorino added a two-run homer in the third inning, while Jimmy Rollins had a three-run homer in the fourth inning.

With the win, Philadelphia moved 4.5 games ahead of the Florida Marlins and the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The loss pushed the Cubs 4 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

Pedro Martinez - Philadelphia Phillies (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Pedro Martinez Victorious in his Return

Baseball speed is usually measured in the 60-yard dash and the sprint from home to first. However, some players are called “fast” for stealing bases, covering ground in the field and having great base running ability. But, who’s the fastest? Did you ever wonder if any of the current MLB players would challenge Usain Bolt in a race? Well, it’s time for the 2008 MLB Track Olympics. Here are 16 guys that could give him a run for his money.

If Bud Selig decided to hold a MLB’s Fastest Man competition, there would be several players that would come to mind: Ichiro, Willy Taveras, Jose Reyes, etc… However, what if you lined them up on a track. No baseball uniforms and no batting helmets or gloves. Which speedy baseball player would come out on top?

My ideal 100-meter lineup would be comprised of two heats. Here are the competitors for heat number one:
Lane 1 – Joey Gathright, OF, Kansas City Royals
Lane 2 – Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Seattle Mariners
Lane 3 – Carl Crawford, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Lane 4 – Willy Taveras, OF, Colorado Rockies
Lane 5 – Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets
Lane 6 – Chone Figgins, 3B, Los Angeles Angels
Lane 7 – Carlos Gomez, OF, Minnesota Twins
Lane 8 – Juan Pierre, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Now that would be a fast, fast race. I think Figgins, Reyes or Gathright would out-run the others and cruise to victory. Add Pierre as the fourth place finisher and that’s my top four moving on to the finals.

Here is the lineup for heat number two:
Lane 1 – Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Lane 2 – Michael Bourn, OF, Houston Astros
Lane 3 – Curtis Granderson, OF, Detroit Tigers
Lane 4 – Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox
Lane 5 – B.J. Upton, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Lane 6 – Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Lane 7 – Brandon Phillips, 2B, Cincinnati Reds
Lane 8 – Fred Lewis, OF, San Francisco Giants

Not many people understand just how fast Michael Bourn and Fred Lewis are. They show up in this race and finish first and second with Brian Roberts and Jimmy Rollins also advancing.

For the finals, here’s a loaded lineup:
Lane 1 – Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Lane 2 – Juan Pierre, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Lane 3 – Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles
Lane 4 – Joey Gathright, OF, Kansas City Royals
Lane 5 – Michael Bourn, OF, Houston Astros
Lane 6 – Jose Reyes, SS, New York Mets
Lane 7 – Fred Lewis, OF, San Francisco Giants
Lane 8 – Chone Figgins, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

Before we analyze this race, I think this would be a heat that would rival Bolt’s competition at the Olympics. This is a lineup of world-class speed. Gathright and Bourn both have that speed that is so amazing when you watch them play the outfield, you understand why they are on the field. Roberts and Lewis are two guys that are under the radar with their speed, but both could challenge this field in a race. Everyone knows what kind of speed Pierre, Figgins, Reyes and Rollins bring to the table. It’s long been discussed. However, the winner of the ‘08 MLB Fastest Man competition has to go to Gathright, with Bourn and Figgins claiming second and third, respectively.

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Could baseball’s fastest man challenge Usain Bolt?

Reigning National League MVP Jimmy Rollins offered up that quote Saturday while the Philadelphia Phillies were on a road trip in San Diego. The Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park tonight for a homestand that will last nine games.

Rollins has been criticized lately for his comments about the fans in Philadelphia on two TV sports talk shows.

Post from: EveryJoe

They Said It: Jimmy Rollins