Good morning! Am I seriously blogging at 2am? Well, that just shows ya how much I love you people! Just got back from the game and I have toothpicks holding my eyes open. And toothpicks are what the Phillies batters appeared to be hitting with tonight as they faced a very effective Derek Lowe. It was a fairly quiet crowd at the ballpark until Chase Utley hit that 2-run homer in the 6th inning. Pat Burrell followed up with one of his own and put the Phillies in the lead. Good thing too, because aside from those hits, the offense went silent. 7 hits total for the Phils, 2 of which were from Utley, 2 from Burrell, 2 from Carlos Ruiz and 1 from pitcher, Cole Hamels.
As for pitching, Hamels looked good tonight, except for a shaky first inning. He wound up going 7 innings and gave up 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks. Ryan Madson pitched the 8th and held the Dodgers down so Brad Lidge could wipe them out in the 9th. Whew! Game 1, in the books.
So, I tried to get some decent photos through the sea of waving arms and towels. Not to mention the guy in front of me who was having a very bad hair day. 
Seriously, his hair was stuck in this position the entire game. I so wanted to reach over and fix it for him, but I am pretty sure that would not have gone over too well. In fact, I think in some countries it may even be a crime to invade a person’s personal space. God Bless America… J So, I shot around the hair as best I could. Here are some for you: Pre-Game ceremonies; Gary Matthews throws the first pitch; The crowd goes wild after Burrell’s home run:
Shane Victorino collides with Lowe at first base:
Brad Lidge saves them again!
Charlie Manuel congratulates Utley after the game:
And the highlight of my evening was when I saw one of MY photos on a Phillies sign someone made shown on the big screen in the park. It was this one of Jayson Werth…
If you are reading this and the sign was yours, please send me a photo of it! You can e-mail me at jenn@myteamrivals.com. By the time it flashed by on the screen, I was not able to get my camera moving fast enough. It was a cool sign J
So, that’s the news for now…game 2 tomorrow afternoon! Go Phillies!
Great game for Hamels, Victorino, Utley and Burrell. But we need more of that offense. 3 Runs did it in game one, but to take this series, we need much more offense like that 6th. Hamels was sensational after being touched by Manny in the 1st. Ramirez went 2 for 4, but after that 1st inning double, there was nothing on his platter to deliver on.
I hear that its Happy Birthday Pat the Bat. Hopefully, a birthday present or two from Billingsley.
Let’s go Myers in another BIG money game! A win today gives us command of the series, and I wanna see a replay of 1983, the last time these 2 teams met each other in the post-season.
GO PHILLIES!
Posted by: Mark B. | October 10, 2008 at 04:35 AM
I'd like to see a replay of that series and of the 1980 outcome, and I don't care who they are playing! :O) Although beating up on the Dodgers will be fun too :O) Hee!
Posted by: Jenn | October 10, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Hi Jenn, Thanks for the on-the-scene report. I am very jealous, though watching from my living room is about as much stress as I can take. Check out my recap and live blog of Game 1 at National Pastime. I will use at least one of your photos and credit you, of course. Go Phils! Beat LA!
Posted by: Dave | October 10, 2008 at 03:01 PM
First of all I would like to pass along my sympathies to Charlie Manual and his Family...
Now on to Baseball...
This could either fire up your team or make them depressed...I was expecting a split in Philly and this could ruin my plans
Good game last night...Game could have gone either way...looking for a different outcome tonight...Go Dodgers
Posted by: K T | October 10, 2008 at 04:04 PM