Every day is exactly the same...

(originally posted on 5/15/07)
I can't remember how this got started,
But I can tell you
Exactly
How it will end

-"Every Day is Exactly the Same", NINE INCH NAILS

Actually, I can tell you exactly when the Phillies' hot streak got started- in last Wednesday's miraculous come-from-behind victory in Arizona. Since then it hasn't been a matter of whether they would win or lose, it been a matter of how they would win. It's been like watching Jack Bauer. No matter how bleak things look, you know who's going to be victorious in the end. So you just sit back and enjoy the ruthless efficiency of the ride.

Tonight's episode featured more strong starting pitching. Adam Eaton was superb, only allowing 2 runs, 1 unearned, in 7 2/3 innings. He was worth the $8 million/yr. tonight. I will even go as far as to say he was worth Meche Money tonight. He lowered his ERA to 6.42 in his 2nd consecutive strong outing. Greg Dobbs, filling in for Ryan Howard (DL), continued his timely hitting (.600 in last 5 games) with a solo HR, and contributed a number of fine plays in the field. Pat Burrell also made a fine shoestring catch in LF, to the the delight of fine city of Philadelphia. The game was stopped immediately, so that Pat could be given the Key to the City.

For comic relief, Shane Victorino tried to score standing up again, with hilariously feeble results. Victorino also misplayed a fly ball in RF, leading to the first Brewer run. The Flyin' Hawaiian showed symptoms of Abreu Wall Fear on that play, but he did make a good effort on the ball. (Abreu would have allowed it to six-hop against the base of the wall, and then picked it up once it stopped moving.) The Phillies had numerous opportunities to break the game open, but couldn't manage more than a single run in any innings. But that didn't really matter all that much, as the Phillies had this game in their back pocket. (Which, incidentally, is where Pat kept the Key.)

With two outs in the 8th, and the Phillies holding a commanding 3-1 lead, Eaton was touched for a solo HR by Milwaukee 1B Prince Fielder. Brett Myers (perfect in save opportunities for the season) came in to finish off the win. He closed out the 8th with a strikeout of SS Bill Hall, and came out in the 9th to secure his 5th save.

Except Myers allowed a game-tying HR to Johnny Estrada.

My profane howl of anguish could be heard above the shouts of the SWAT team conducting routine operations outside. Myers got out of the inning without allowing another run, but the damage had, apparently, been done. To the Phillies streak, and my psyche.

As the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the Phillies' 9th, it appeared that we were returning to the early season script. A blown save by the closer. Six-fingered reliever would be touched for two runs in the top of the 10th. Phillies would get one back in bottom of 10th, but Michael Bourn (batting in place of slugger/Hero of Philadelphia Pat Burrell, whom he had replaced defensively, when the Phillies victory seemed assured) would be retired to end the loss, the tying run stranded in scoring position.

As C Carlos Ruiz strode to the plate, I considered the Phillies' options. I determined that Rod Barajas would come into the game as C, and lead off the bottom of the 10th in the 9th spot in the order. Antonio Alfonseca would enter the game to pitch, replacing Ruiz in the 8th spot in the order.

THEN CARLOS RUIZ HIT A GAME-WINNING WALK-OFF HOME RUN!

My cry of astonishment could be heard above the rattling of gunfire in the back alley.
It was a stunning denouement.

Ruiz was interviewed immediately following the HR, at which point he was hit in the face by Shane Victorino. With a cream pie. (Apparently, Victorino was playing the part of Tomas Perez in tonight's perfomance. It was a stunningly accurate portrayal.) As MLB.TV unceremoniously closed my window into Phillies Nation, I basked in the blue glow of another miraculous Phillies victory. The Philadelphia Kixx won't be the only 2007 Champions in Pat Burrell's Town.