(originally posted 8/8/07)The Phillies got the Brewers right where they wanted them, and then...WHAM! The Phillies' three-game weekend series in Milwaukee went exactly according to The Plan. The first game featured a brilliant pitching performance by Phillies rookie Kyle Kendrick, and a solo HR by Player of the Month Patrick Brian Burrell. (Sorry, Ryan Braun, you had a good month of July, but it was necessary to re-gift your award to Mr. Burrell. Because: 1.332 July OPS) That was about it for the Phillies in their 2-1 Friday night loss, but it was enough to start lulling the Brewers into a false sense of security.
The Phillies continued following The Plan on Saturday. They took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the 6th inning, fueled by homers off the bats of Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, and Greg Dobbs. With Ace Colbert Michael Hamels on the mound, such a lead would seem almost impossible for the Brewers to overcome. Unless, of course it was part of The Plan. Which it, obviously, was. The only way Hamels allows four runs in only seven innings (usually, it takes over twenty innings for him to allow four runs) would be because he was following The Plan. Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel brought on Tom Gordon to surrender the rest of the lead in the Phillies' 6-5 loss. It was as inexplicable move. One of many inexplicable moves (Chris Roberson batting leadoff?) made before, during, and after the game by Manuel. As is his way. But those inexplicable choices were part of a greater brilliance that few could fathom. At least, few could fathom it before witnessing what was to come on Sunday.
Adam Eaton brought the Highest ERA in the Known Worlds into Sunday's matchup. (Strangely, on Saturday night, the Brewers announcers were awestruck by the strength of a Phillies rotation that featured Cole Hamels AND Adam Eaton. Perhaps they have been watching Dave Bush too long, if they consider Eaton a #2. Crazy, that.) Eaton permitted four runs in the first inning, and six runs in his 4.1 inning performance. His was able to increase his ERA to 6.09, and left with the Phillies trailing, 6-0. The Phillies managed to cut that deficit to 6-1, entering the 9th inning. It was all but assured that the Brewers would secure a three game series sweep.
Even after the Phillies struck for two ninth-inning runs on a Jayson Werth homer, it still looked very bad for Philly. Brewers closer Francisco Cordero (22-22 in save opportunities at home) came in to finish up. He retired the first two Phillies he faced, leaving the Brewers one out away, with the bases devoid of Phillies. But two walks, a HBP, and an infield hit followed, putting the tying run on second base. With two strikes, Phillies OF Aaron Rowand hit a ball towards Brewers 3B Ryan Braun. Braun misplayed the ball into an error, and the Phillies had completed their unlikely comeback. (Unlikely to anyone but Charlie Manuel, who had it all mapped out from the beginning of the first game of the series. If not sooner.)
The Phillies went ahead in the 11th, on a two-out, two-run double off the bat of former Brewer Wes Helms. With Jose Mesa primed and ready to close out the game for yet another save, The Plan was about to be realized. As Mesa teased the Brewers, allowing them to load the bases with two outs, before retiring Craig Counsell on a blazing liner. The Phillies had dealt the Brewers a demoralizing blow. A blow that would prove to be even more demoralizing to the Brewers than a three-game Phillies sweep would have been. The tactical brilliance of Charles Fuqua Manuel had been revealed.
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