This Cub team had a 109-44 pythagorean record and finished in 2nd in the NL, 6 1/2 behind the Pirates. The Cubs won the pennant in '06, '07, '08, '10. The pitching staff had a 1.75 ERA. This team was looking to three-peat, the Cubs having won the World Series in '07 and '08.
Phillies 102-60 (Pythag 103-59) Mgr. Charlie Manuel (4th in NL Mgr of Year)
1st in NL East
Lost NLDS 3-2 to Cardinals
d. #3 1906 Cubs 2-0 (MVP-Roy Halladay)
d. #62 1999 Yankees 3-0 (MVP-Hunter Pence)
d. #30 1904 Giants 3-0 (MVP-Shane Victorino)
All-Stars: SP Roy Halladay (2nd in NL Cy Young) SP Cole Hamels (5th in NL Cy Young) SP Cliff Lee (3rd in NL Cy Young) 3B Placido Polanco, OF Shane Victorino
Hall of Famers: Roy Halladay
This was the Phillies 5th straight NL East title and the second straight year they had the best record in MLB. They won the division by 13 games. They lost game 5 of the NLDS 1-0 at home to St Louis.
Phillies
CF Victorino (30) (SH) 130 5.4
2B Utley (32) (LH) 110 3.5
1B Howard (31) (LH) 126 1.9
RF Pence (28) 159 2.1
LF Mayberry (27) 131 2
SS Rollins (32) (SH) 101 3.5
C Ruiz (32) 108 2.6
3B Polanco (35) 86 2.3
P Halladay (34) 163 7.8
Bench
LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91
RF Brown (23) (LH) 98
3B Valdez (33) 74
RF Francisco (29) 94
3B Martinez (28) (SH) 48
C Schneider (34) (LH) 38
1B Gload (35) (LH) 65
Game 2 SP: Lee (LH) (32) 160 8.1
Game 3 SP: Hamels (LH) (27) 137 6.1
Game 4: Worley (23) 127
Cubs
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
P Overall (28) 179 8.5
Bench:
C Archer (26) 71 .7
2B Zimmerman (22) 93 .1
1B Howard (31) (LH) 63
Game 2: Reulbach (26) 143 5
Game 3 Brown (32) 193 8.5
Game 4: Kroh (22) (LH) 155
Lineups:
C-Ruiz, Moran had the big semi-final, but you have to take Ruiz here
1B-Push, Chance/Howard nearly identical at this point in their careers
2B-Evers, he and Tinker a few years younger than their Phillies counterparts
SS-Tinker
3B-Steinfeldt
LF-push
CF-Victorino
RF-Pence, the position players are tied
SP1-Overall
SP2-Lee
SP3-Brown
SP4-Kroh, the Cubs have the starting pitching advantage
Pen-Phils
WAR: Cubs 6 Phils 5, Cubs have the much, much better seed giving them home field, they edge the Phils in WAR, it's Victorino who is the best position player and the Phils, it must be stated - are undefeated in this tournament, a remarkable 8-0. Cubs are your favorite, but you have to expect some tough, taut pitchers duels.
GAME ONE
1st: The 1977 Yankees and 2017 Dodgers are safely into the Elite 8 - one of these two squads will join them. 28 year old RH Orval Overall was MVP of the Cubs round 2 win over the '78 Yankees, 20-11, 1.42. Overall went to Cal, played football and baseball, signed with the Reds in '05 and had a 2.86 ERA (and lost 23 games). They sold him to the Cubs the following year; in '07 he won 23 games with a 1.68 ERA. In '08, Orvall's ERA was 1.92. Orvall was third in ERA this season. With one out, he hits Chase Utley - that's all.
1st: The Phillies have already beaten a version of this Cubs team - back, back, back in Round 1 the Phillies took out the third overall seed in the tournament, the 1906 Cubs and the MVP of that series was Roy Halladay. 34 yer old RH, 19-6, 2.35. Halladay's from Denver; went 17th overall in '95 by the Jays after high school. At the end of the '98 season, he came up, came within an out of a no hitter in his second start. It wasnt until '02 that he broke out, 19-7, 2.93, made the All Star team. Halladay won the Cy Young the next year, winning 15 games in a row at one point and finishing 22-7. He was an All Star in '05 and '06, finished 2nd in the Cy Young in '08 to Cliff Lee (who will be pitching for the Phils in game 2). Before the '10 season he was shipped to the Phillies - pitched a perfect game against the Marlins - won 21 games and another Cy Young. In Game 1 of the NLDS, Halladay no hit the Reds. This year he was second in the Cy Young, his 7th top 5 finish. 1-2-3
2nd: Jimmy Rollins singles with one away. The Phils shortstop is 32, grew up in Oakland, drafted by the Phils in the second round in '96 after high school, got called up late in '00. In '01 and '02 he led the NL in triples and steals. In '05-'06 Rollins had a 38 game hit streak; in '07 he hit 30 homers and was named NL MVP and in '08 the Phillies won the World Series (the Cubs won it a hundred years before). Rollins had 9 hits in this year's NLDS. Carlos Ruiz reaches on an error and then Placido Polanco clears the bases with a double down the right field line. After the second out Shane Victorino singles home the third run. Utley singles - it ends here. Phillies 3 Cubs 0
2nd: 32 year old Frank Chance singles. Lot of California in this game - Chance is from Fresno, went to Washington College and signed with the Cubs in 1898. Chance was a backup catcher for his first few years in the league, moving to first in '03 and leading the league in steals. Chance added the managerial role in '05 in '06 the Cubs won 116 games (and got swept by these Phillies in the tournament) and then won the World Series in '07 and '08. Chance steals second, moves to third on the first out of the inning and scores on a Harry Steinfeldt sac fly. Joe Tinker doubles. Pat Moran singles. Men on the corners - but that's all. Phillies 3 Cubs 1
3rd: 28 year old Hunter Pence singles. Pence is from Texas, went to U-T Arlington, Houston took him in the second round in '04, debuted with the big club in 2007, made the All Star team in '08. The Phils got him at the break this year, in 54 games with the Phillies Pence hit .324 and was MVP in their round 2 win over the '99 Yankees. Overall gets the next 3.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 33 year old Harry Steinfeldt singles with 2 out. Steinfeldt grew up in Ft Worth; signed with Detroit in the Western League in 1896, then with the Reds in '98, traded to the Cubs after the '05 season. In '06 he led the league in RBI, in the '07 World Series Steinfeldt hit .471. That's all Halladay allows.
5th: 1-2-3, Overall sets down 9 straight.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Carlos Ruiz reaches on a 2 out error; Placido Polanco walks -- and then Halladay comes through with a run scoring single. Victorino walks to load the bases - and then an Overall wild pitch scores another run. The Phils are 8-0 in this tournament and now rolling through game 1. Phillies 5 Cubs 1
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Halladay
7th: With one out, Pence and John Maybery walk. After the second out, Ruiz reaches on a run scoring error. This one looks done. Phillies 6 Cubs 1
7th: 1-2-3, 10 in a row for Halladay, the Cubs have just 4 hits.
8th: 1-2-3, just 6 hits for the Phillies today, but they've made them count.
8th: Pat Moran singles - Overall hit 2 homers during the season - but he stays in the game, hits for himself - and hits a 2 run homer to cut the deficit to 6-3. Halladay shakes it off. Phillies 6 Cubs 3
9th: Pence walks with one out - Rollins singles after the second out - and Ruiz provides the safety, a run scoring single. Polanco follows with a run scoring single. Halladay and Victorino each hit run scoring singles and it is a route. Irv Higginbotham comes on for the Cubs, 27 year old RH, 2.19. That's the end of the inning. Too late for the Cubs. Phillies 10 Cubs 3
9th: Chance singles, 2 outs later Tinker singles him home. And that's the end.
Phillies 10
Cubs 4
WP Halladay
LP Overall
Complete game win for Halladay and the Phillies are now 9-0.
Victorino 3x
Utley 1x
Pence 3x
Mayberry 1x
Rollins 2x
Ruiz 1x
Polanco 3x/double
Halladay 2x
Chance 2x
Steinfeldt 1x
Tinker 2x/double
Moran 2x
Overall 1x/HR
CF Victorino (30) (SH) 130 5.4
2B Utley (32) (LH) 110 3.5
1B Howard (31) (LH) 126 1.9
RF Pence (28) 159 2.1
LF Mayberry (27) 131 2
SS Rollins (32) (SH) 101 3.5
C Ruiz (32) 108 2.6
3B Polanco (35) 86 2.3
P: Lee (LH) (32) 160 8.1
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
Game 2: Reulbach (26) 143 5
GAME TWO
1st: The 2011 Phillies entered as the 126th overall seed - they've won all 9 games they've played in the tournament and are now 3 wins short of taking Region 3. 26 year old RH Ed Reulbach is tasked with stopping them. 19-10, 1.78. Reulbach's from Detroit, went to Notre Dame and then to medical school at Vermont, where he continued to play baseball (he wasn't there long, signing with the Cubs in '05). He had a 1.42 ERA as a rookie in 1905, over '06-07 Reulbach won 17 consecutive games and in '08 had a 44 consecutive scoreless inning streak. He gives up a Shane Victorino single, that's all.
1st: If 32 year old lefty Cliff Lee can match Roy Halladay's game one performance, the Phillies will head home up 2-0. 17-8, 2.40. Lee went to Arkansas; the Expos took him in the 4th round in 2000 and two years later dealt him, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore to Cleveland with Bartolo Colon headed back. Late that year, he made his debut. In '05, Lee was 4th in the Cy Young; in '08, he went 22-3 and won the Cy Young. At the '09 deadline, he went to the Phillies, with Carlos Carrasco and Jason Donald among those headed back. Lee went 2-0 in the '09 World Series, throwing a complete game. At the end of the year, he was onto the Mariners and in mid-2010 was dealt to the Rangers. Lee struck out 21 in the '10 ALDS; in the offseason, he headed back to Philadelphia and finished third in the Cy Young. 1-2-3
2nd: John Mayberry doubles; Mayberry's from Kansas City, his dad was an All Star first baseman in the 70s; he went to Stanford, the Rangers took him 19th overall in '05 and he was sent to the Phillies organization before the '09 season. Maybery was up and down the next two seasons - this year he played in 104 games and hit .273. An out later, Carlos Ruiz doubles him home. Reulbach hits Polanco - that's all. Phillies 1 Cubs 0
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Chase Utley singles with one out. A win in this series would give Utley 2 spots in the Elite 8; six years from now he'll be platooning at second for LA. Utley's from the city they call Long Beach, went to UCLA. The Phils took him 15th in 2000. Utley came up in '03, had a 35 game hit streak in '06, hit 33 homers in 2008, and hit 5 homers in the 2009 World Series. Ryan Howard singles - men on the corners. That's all.
3rd: 1-2-3, 9 up, 9 down.
4th: Carlos Ruiz has the game's only RBI and he singles with 1 away. The 32 year old catcher is Panamanian, signed with the Phils in '98 and made his debut 8 years later. Ruiz got the starting job in '07, this year he started 113 games. Polanco follows with a single, he's reached 5 times. That's it.
4th: Frank Chance singles with one away, the Cubs have a baserunner. 27 year old Johnny Evers then walks. Evers is 125 pounds - this is a very different time to be a human. He signed with the Cubs out of Troy, New York in '02, he came up at the end of the season and joined Joe Tinker in the middle of the Cub diamond. They didn't speak off the field. Evers hit .350 in the '08 Series. After the second out Jimmy Sheckard walks, and then Joe Tinker singles home 2 runs and the Cubs have the lead. Frank Schulte singles to load them again, that's all. Phillies 1 Cubs 2
5th: Pence is hit with one out -- that's two Phillies hit today and now that needs to be on the radar; you get a team like the Phillies winning 9 straight in this tournament, eventually an old school team might decide to go get some scalps. It ends here.
5th: Reulbach helps himself with a double. 26 year old Solly Hofman singles him to third. Hofman's from St Louis; signed with the Pirates in '03, acquired by the Cubs in '04. He was the Cub utility man until this year, when he became the regular center fielder. Lee gets Chance to ground into a double play - but it scores another run. Phils 1 Cubs 3
6th: Ruiz singles, his third hit of the day, but that's all - and now the Cubs are 9 outs away from handing the Phillies their first loss.
6th: 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3, Reulbach 6 outs from evening this series.
7th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Lee, but is it too little?
8th: 1-2-3, and now Reulbach's retired 9 in a row and the Phils are about to go down for the first time in the tournament.
8th: Hofman singles. Lee gets two - but Hofman steals second and scores the insurance run on a Steinfeldt single. It's about to end. Phils 1 Cubs 4
9th: Domonic Brown comes on to hit for Lee - and he gets hit. 3 hit batsmen today by the Cubs.
Victorino flies to left.
And Utley grounds to Tinker -- onto Evers -- onto Chance. Ballgame.
Phils 1
Cubs 4
WP Reulbach
LP Lee
Complete game win for Reulbach and the Cubs have handed the Phillies their first loss of the tournament. We head to Philly for 3.
Chance 3x
Hofman 2x
Evers 1x
Steinfeldt 2x
Sheckard 1x
Tinker 3x/double
Schulte 1x
Moran 2x
Overall 1x/HR
Victorino 4x
Utley 2x
Pence 4x
Howard 1x
Mayberry 2x/double
Rollins 2x
Ruiz 4x/double
Polanco 5x/double
Halladay 2x
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
2B Zimmerman (22) 93 .1
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Archer (26) 71 .7
Game 3 Brown (32) 193 8.5
CF Victorino (30) (SH) 130 5.4
2B Utley (32) (LH) 110 3.5
1B Howard (31) (LH) 126 1.9
RF Pence (28) 159 2.1
SS Rollins (32) (SH) 101 3.5
C Ruiz (32) 108 2.6
LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91
3B Polanco (35) 86 2.3
Game 3 SP: Hamels (LH) (27) 137 6.1
GAME THREE
1st: Citizen's Bank Park is the venue for the next 3 games of the series - and it's 27 year old lefty Cole Hamels who is standing on the mound. 14-9, 2.79. Hamels is from San Diego, scored 1510 on his SAT. Phillies took him 17th overall in '02, came up in '06. All-Star in '07, MVP of both the 2008 NLCS and the 2008 World Series. Hamels was 5th in the Cy Young this year, behind teammates Lee (3rd) and Halladay (2nd). Solly Hofman doubles. Frank Chance doubles and before the seats are even filled its 1-0. After the first out, Jimmy Sheckard singles -- has the spell been broken? Has the slipper fallen off? Cubs 2 Phillies 0
1st: Three Finger Brown goes for the Cubs. 32 year old RH, 27-9, 1.31. Brown's from Indiana, he lost his right index finger as a child and had a second hand injury impacting two other fingers. He pitched semi-pro, then in the Western League, and signed with the Cardinals in '03 who dealt him to the Cubs in the offseason. In '04, his ERA was 1.86, in '06 it was 1.04. In '07 it was 1.39. Brown won 29 games in '08, pitched in 11 of the Cubs last 14 regular season games and came out of the pen to beat the Giants in a one game playoff for the pennant. 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Hunter Pence triples. He scores on a Jimmy Rollins groundout. Cubs 2 Phillies 1
3rd: Hofman walks with one away, Chance then doubles again - and Harry Steinfeldt drives both men home with a base hit - the Cubs are all over Hamels. Cubs 4 Phillies 1
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 26 year old Wildfire Frank Schulte singles with 2 away. Schulte's from upstate New York, played in Syracuse in the New York State League, signed with the Cubs in '04. Schilte hit in each World Series game in '07-'08. Hamels stops it here.
4th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Brown, the Phils have one baserunner.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Rollins leads off with a single - 2 outs later Placido Polanco singles. Polanco's 35; he's Dominican, drafted by the Cards in the 19th round in '94, called up in '98, dealt to the Phillies for Scott Rolen at the '02 deadline. 3 years later he was sent to the Tigers for Ugeth Urbina, he was MVP in the 2006 ALCS; in '07, Polanco didn't commit an error as the Tigers regular second baseman and in 2010 he returned to Philadelphia. Polanco made the All Star team this year. Brown keeps the Phils from the scoreboard.
6th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Hamels.
6th: 1-2-3, Brown's 9 outs from the Cubs taking game 3.
7th: Heinie Zimmerman doubles; Chance inserted the 22 year old Zimmerman in at second today against the lefty Hamels. He's from the Bronx; the Cubs signed him out of the New York State League in '06. He's a utilityman. 1-2-3
7th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Brown - he's given up just 3 hits and the Cubs are rolling toward this series lead.
8th: Steinfeldt singles with 2 away, that's all.
8th: Polanco singles with one away; he's reached 7 times, leading both squads. But thats it.
9th: 24 year old RH Michael Stutes takes over for the Phils; 3.63. He walks Tinker who steals second. Zimmerman and Schulte single back to back; it's now 5-1 and this one is done. Cubs 5 Phillies 1
9th: Utley singles - Brown gets a double play from Howard and he's an out away.
Pence singles.
Rollins singles.
Ruiz pops to Steinfeldt and that's all
Cubs 5
Phillies 1
WP Brown
LP Hamels
An easy one for Brown and it's the Cubs who now have command of the series - 4th starters go next; can the Phils get back into this?
Chance 6x/2 doubles
Hofman 4x/double
Evers 1x
Steinfeldt 4x
Sheckard 2x
Tinker 4x/double
Schulte 3x
Moran 2x
Zimmerman 2x/double
Overall 1x/HR
Victorino 4x
Utley 3x
Pence 6x/triple
Howard 1x
Mayberry 2x/double
Rollins 3x
Ruiz 4x/double
Polanco 7x/double
Halladay 2x
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
Game 4: Kroh (22) (LH) 155
CF Victorino (30) (SH) 130 5.4
C Ruiz (32) 108 2.6
RF Pence (28) 159 2.1
LF Mayberry (27) 131 2
1B Howard (31) (LH) 126 1.9
SS Rollins (32) (SH) 101 3.5
2B Utley (32) (LH) 110 3.5
3B Polanco (35) 86 2.3
Game 4: Worley (23) 127
GAME FOUR
1st: The Phils won 9 straight - but have lost games 2 and 3 and are now looking up at the Cubs and relying on their 4th starter, 23 year old RH Vance Worley. 11-3, 3.01. Worley's from Sacramento, went to Cal St Long Beach, the Phils took him in the third round in '08. He pitched in 5 games last year, and this is officially his rookie year. Worley was third in the Rookie of the Year. Jimmy Sheckard singles with one away, after the second out Frank Chance walks - the Cubs manager has reached 7 times, pacing his squad. That's all.
1st: 22 year old lefty Rube Kroh 9-4, 1.65. Kroh's from Friendship, NY - dropped out of high school to sign with Boston in '06, released in '08, picked up by the Cubs. 1909 is his career best year. Shane Victorino singles. The 30 year old CF is Hawaiian, drafted by the Dodgers in the 6th round in '99. The Padres scooped him up and he made his big league debut in '02, they let him go, he was back in the LA organization and eventually on to the Phillies in '04, getting called up in '05. In '09, Victorino made the All Star team. Carlos Ruiz singles. Hunter Pence grounds out, scoring the game's first run. After the second out, Ryan Howard singles, that's it. Cubs 0 Phillies 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: With 2 outs, Worley helps himself with a single and Victorino walks. Ruiz and Pence each hit run scoring singles. The Phils are off and running. Cubs 0 Phillies 3
3rd: Sheckard singles again with 2 away, nothing results.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Chance walks again, steals second, scores on a Frank Schulte double. 2 outs later 33 year old catcher Pat Moran singles. Moran's from Mass, played semi-pro, signed with Boston in '01, send to the Cubs before the '06 season, largely serving as the backup catcher. That's all. Cubs 1 Phillies 3
4th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Kroh.
5th: Johnny Evers is back in the lineup today, he singles. That's all.
5th: 1-2-3, 10 straight for Kroh
6th: Steinfeldt walks with 2 away, that's all. Nice outing for Worley in a big spot.
6th: Ryan Howard walks. The 31 year old first baseman is from Missouri, went to Missouri St, taken by the Phillies in the fifth round in '01. Howard came up late in '04 and was Rookie of the Year in '05, hitting 22 homers. In 2006 Howard hit 58 homers and won the NL MVP. He was 2nd in '08 and hit 3 homers in the World Series. Howard was NLCS MVP in '09, and in this year's NLDS he tore his achilles. Rollins singles, Utley walks - and the Phils have the bases loaded with nobody out and a chance to end this one. Polanco sac fly scores a run. That's all Kroh allows. Cubs 1 Philies 4
7th: Michael Stutes comes on for the Phils - bullpen time for Charlie Manuel. 1-2-3
7th: Irv Higginbotham enters for the Cubs - 1-2-3
8th: Stutes his Sheckard. Walks Hofman. Chance singles and here we go, bases loaded and nobody out. Schulte walks and it's 4-2. Schulte gets 1 -- but then Joe Tinker singles..one run scores...two run scores and this game is tied. David Herndon now enters for the Phillies - he gives up a Moran single -- and the Cubs have come all the way back and taken the lead. Cubs 5 Phillies 4
8th: Well, this one turned around in a hurry - Cubs now 6 outs away from going up 3 games to 1 in this Regional Final. Phils really up against it now. The 23 year old RH Rip Hagerman enters for Chicago. Howard singles. But that's all.
9th: Evers reaches on an error, steals second, and Jimmy Sheckard singles to make it 6-4 and this Philly crowd is shocked. Hofman triples - and now it's 7-4 and this one sure looks done. Herndon gets one - but Schulte then doubles and another scores. 33 year old RH Danys Baez comes on to end it. Cubs 8 Phillies 4
9th: Raul Ibanez comes off the bench and pinch singles but nothing else.
Cubs 8
Phillies 4
WP Higginbotham
LP Stutes
Sv Hagerman
It turns fans, the Phils were positioned to even up the series, but the Cubs ripped apart the Philly bullpen and now are a game away from advancing.
Chance 9x/2 doubles
Hofman 6x/double, triple
Evers 2x
Steinfeldt 5x
Sheckard 6x
Tinker 5x/double
Schulte 6x/2 doubles
Moran 4x
Zimmerman 2x/double
Overall 1x/HR
Victorino 6x
Utley 4x
Pence 7x/triple
Howard 4x
Mayberry 2x/double
Rollins 4x
Ruiz 6x/double
Polanco 7x/double
Halladay 2x
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
P Overall (28) 179 8.5
CF Victorino (30) (SH) 130 5.4
2B Utley (32) (LH) 110 3.5
1B Howard (31) (LH) 126 1.9
RF Pence (28) 159 2.1
SS Rollins (32) (SH) 101 3.5
C Ruiz (32) 108 2.6
LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91
3B Polanco (35) 86 2.3
P Halladay (34) 163 7.8
GAME FIVE
1st: Down 3 games to 1, every day is do or die for these Phillies; they've got the guy they want on the mound in this spot, Roy Halladay, winner of game 1. Halladay started 2 games in the 2011 NLDS, 1-1, 2.25. 1-2-3
1st: Orval Overall, game 1 loser, comes back out for the Cubs today. In 51 career World Series innings Overall had a 1.58 ERA. Shane Victorino greets him with a single. He's now reached 7 times. Victorino comes all the way around to score on a Chase Utley triple that fires up this home crowd. It's Utley's first extra base hit of the series. Overall gets the next 3. Cubs 0 Phils 1
2nd: After 2 out, Halladay hits Steinfeldt - that draws a roar from the crowd which is looking for a receipt for their own batters getting hit earlier in the series. That's all.
2nd: Carlos Ruiz singles. Chooch has reached 7 times. That's it.
3rd: Pat Moran singles with one away - he's reached 5 times in the series and sat out a game. That's it.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: Jimmy Sheckard singles. The 30 year old LF is from Pennsylvania, signed with Brooklyn in 1897, sent to the Orioles and played for John McGraw in '99, he'd have two more stints in Brooklyn, sandwiching another stint in Baltimore and after the '05 season he was dealt to the Cubs. Sheckard went 0-21 in the '06 World Series and nearly lost an eye in a fight with Heinie Zimmerman in '08. Halladay gets the next 3.
4th: 1-2-3, Overall's retired 9 in a row.
5th: Joe Tinker singles with one out, Halladay maintains the shutout.
5th: Overall gets two, the Polanco singles. That's all.
6th: Johnny Evers singles. Halladay gets the next 3 - the crowd roars its approval and it remains 1-0.
6th: 1-2-3, each team has just 4 hits.
7th: Frank Chance singles and steals second. Tying run in scoring position with no outs. Halladay strands him at third.
7th: Pence and Rollins single - are the Phils about to get a little insurance? Ruiz singles and there it is. 2-0 Phils. Raul Ibanez is in the lineup today, 39 year old left fielder -- Ibanez went to Miami Dade CC and was drafted in the 36th round by the Mariners in '92. He got his first call up in '96 and went up and down until leaving for Kansas City in '00. In 2004 Ibanez went back to Seattle and had a 24 game hit streak. In '05 he hit 33 homers. Prior to the '08 season he signed with the Phillies. Ibanez made the All Star team in '09 and hit .304 in the World Series. He doubles here -- it scores 2 more and that might do it. Overall gets the next 3. Cubs 0 Phillies 4
8th: Moran singles. Overall homered in game 1, hits for himself here and he singles. Manuel decides to stick with Halladay - it pays off.
8th: Utley reaches by error, moves to second on an out, scores on a Pence single. After the second out, Ruiz singles - Ibanez and Polanco follow with run scoring singles - this one's a rout - we are headed back to Chicago for Game 6. Cubs 0 Phillies 7
9th: 3 more outs for Halladay. Schulte singles with 1 out - after the second out Tinker doubles - Charlie Manuel doesn't move from the dugout - Halladay stays in and shuts out the Cubs.
Cubs 0
Phillies 7
WP Halladay
LP Overall
Must win game - Doc Halladay shuts the Cubs out. There will be a game 6.
Victorino 7x
Utley 5x/triple
Pence 9x/triple
Howard 4x
Mayberry 2x/double
Rollins 5x
Ruiz 9x/double
Polanco 9x/double
Ibanez 3x/double
Chance 10x/2 doubles
Hofman 6x/double, triple
Evers 3x
Steinfeldt 6x
Sheckard 7x
Tinker 7x/double
Schulte 7x/2 doubles
Moran 6x
Zimmerman 2x/double
Overall 1x/HR
CF Victorino (30) (SH) 130 5.4
2B Utley (32) (LH) 110 3.5
1B Howard (31) (LH) 126 1.9
RF Pence (28) 159 2.1
SS Rollins (32) (SH) 101 3.5
C Ruiz (32) 108 2.6
LF Ibanez (39) (LH) 91
3B Polanco (35) 86 2.3
P: Lee (LH) (32) 160 8.1
CF Hofman (26) 115 4.1
1B Chance (32) 110 1.9
2B Evers (27) (LH) 116 4.2
3B Steinfeldt (33) 105 3.2
LF Sheckard (30) (LH) 109 2
SS Tinker (28) 99 4.6
RF Schulte (26) (LH) 100 .1
C Moran (33) 72 1.1
Game 2: Reulbach (26) 143 5
GAME SIX
1st: Back to Chicago for Game 6 - Ed Reulbach beat the Phillies in game 2, if he can do it again the Cubs will have won Region 3. In 32 career World Series innings his ERA was 3.03. 1-2-3
1st: Halladay came up big in game 5 - can Cliff Lee do the same? Lee got one start in the 2011 NLDS, lost, gave up 5 earned. Frank Chance singles with one out. He's reached 11 times in the series, leading both squads. Chance steals second. Lee gets the second out - but can't get Harry Steinfeldt, he singles home Chance and the Cubs are in front. Steinfeldt steals second - the Cubs have come out running - and Jimmy Sheckard singles him home and now it's 2-0. Sheckard steals second -- the Cubs just pounding the basepaths - Joe Tinker singles him home. Big first inning for the Cubs. Phillies 0 Cubs 3
2nd: Hunter Pence walks, he's reached 10 times. An out later Carlos Ruiz singles -- Raul Ibanez is in the lineup again today -- and he stays hot, singling home a run - but Ruiz gets gunned down at third on a big throw by Frank Schulte. Placido Polanco singles. Cliff Lee walks to load the bases. But that's it. Phillies 1 Cubs 3
2nd: Solly Hofman singles with one away, then steals second - 4 stolen bases already today for the Cubs - Chance singles again and it's 4-1 and the Cubs are threatening to run away with game 6. Phillies 1 Cubs 4
3rd: Chase Utley singles. The Phils do not have a homer all series against this Cub staff and man do they need one now. Overall gets the next 3. Phillies 1 Cubs 4
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Lee
5th: Lee gets hit - and the Cub fans approve. Tensions rise. Phillies got hit early in the series, a Cub hit yesterday and this sure feels like a possible reply. An out later Utley singles again and then Ryan Howard singles home a run. Phillies 2 Cubs 4
5th: Evers walks with one away, that's all.
6th: Rollins leads off with a double - he slaps his hands together - let's go - let's go - Ruiz singles him home and the Phils draw closer. Two outs later Polanco doubles - but that's all. Phillies 3 Cubs 4
6th: Michael Stutes, who lost game 2, comes on. Sheckard singles. That's all. We are heading to the 7th inning.
7th: Utley's aboard again - he walks with one out. Howard singles again - Pence grounds out - but that scores the tying run. Phillies 4 Cubs 4
7th: Hofman singles with one out - and then Ruiz guns him down trying to steal - that's a big out for the Phils - we head to the 8th.
8th: Irv Higginbogtham enters. Tie score. Game 6. Cubs can clinch today, Phils trying to force game 7. 1-2-3
8th: David Herndon for the Phils. 1-2-3. Let's go to the 9th.
9th: 1-2-3 - 6 up and 6 down for Higginbotham.
9th: Ryan Madson for the Phils, 30 year old RH, 2.37, 32 saves. He gets one AND THEN FRANK SCHULTE HOMERS TO DEAD CENTER TO END IT!
The Cubs pour out of the dugout - Schulte hit 4 homers this season but has hit a walk off to win Region 3 - it is the biggest home run of the tournament so far -- a mob scene - a mob scene at home plate -- it feels like all of Chicago is pounding away at Frank Schulte - he hits one of the biggest home runs in Cub history and the 1909 Cubs advance to the Elite 8.
Phillies 4
Cubs 5
WP Higginbotham
LP Madson
Frank Chance reached a dozen times - Schulte 8, but even if he had just reached once, he's the MVP.
