Pitching is Great In ‘08

When Brett Myers took the mound for the Phillies in game two of the NLCS, everyone hoped he would pitch a great game and be the ultimate factor in producing a Phillies victory on Friday night. During the regular season, players, and especially pitchers can play with amazing talent sometimes exceeding everyone’s including their own expectations. During the playoffs, however, some players can hit an all-time high level playing with talent and charisma that words can no longer describe. Brett Myers may have done just that, Friday night against the Dodgers.

It all began in the top of the first when Manny Ramirez stepped to the plate for the first time against Myers. The first pitch was tucked right under Manny’s chin almost propelling him to fall backwards out of the batters box. The next pitch was thrown three feet behind the back of Ramirez and immediately the Dodgers dugout rose to their feet. If Myers was intending to deliver a message of any kind he definitely made sure his point was made later in the game.

Some describe his performance at the plate as “reaching mythical status”. Brett Myers went 3-for-3 knocking in the go-ahead run for the Phillies in the 2nd. Before you knew it, Myers was at it again the next inning driving a single up the third base line with bases loaded. Two runs scored and Myers stood on first in disbelief. In the fourth he spanked one into the ground directly in front of home plate and beat out the throw as he gimped down the first base side. All-in-all Myers went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs which now gives the new slugger a post season record of 4 hits in only five at bats.

However at the conclusion of the game, the mood in the clubhouse was still dimm as Charlie Manuel and the Phillies were mourning the death of Charlie’s mother, June, who died Friday morning. Also, at the conclusion of the game Shane Victorino was informed that his 82 year-old grandmother, Irene, had also passed away. What proved to be a tough win for the Phils also became a tough day in life for the organization.

Now over to the American League, Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched seven scoreless innings as the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 to take game 1 of the 7 game ALCS. Matsuzaka was not as great as Myers was offensively but defensively he did not allow a single hit until the 7th inning when Carl Crawford belted one to right. Matsuzaka has a perfect record on the road with an 18-3 record on the year. Jonathan Papelbon threw in the ninth to pick up the save as the Red Sox beat the Rays 2-0.