Posted by Danielle Wilson
A winner-take-all game, something that I, as a Phillies fan, have never experienced. This Phillies team have never experienced it, either. The last series-deciding game that the Phillies played was back in 1981, an NLDS game against the Montreal Expos. They lost that game, and they lost tonight's game too, in the most upsetting way you could ever think of: a shutout.
They had everything going for them: Roy Halladay on the mound, the same lineup posted all throughout this series, and home field advantage in front of 46,000+ screaming fans.
A 33-pitch first inning was not an ideal start for Roy Halladay. Rafael Furcal took a fast ball to deep right field for a lead off triple. The next batter, Skip Schumaker, doubled to score Furcal, putting the Cardinals up 1-0. Roy Halladay shut down the rest of the order, but it was no help that the Cards fouled off almost half of the pitches that Roy tossed.
Chris Carpenter needed 11 pitches to get through Rollins, Utley, and Pence in the first inning. Not exactly what Phillies fans had in mind considering Carpenter's last start against the Phils.
Halladay seemed to have locked into this game by the second inning, shutting down the Cardinals in order with just nine pitches. That's more like it. Shane Victorino doubled in the second inning with one out, his first extra base hit in five games. However, no one would be able to send him home.
Doc struck out Albert Pujols to end another scoreless inning. Up to 52 pitches. Following a scoreless third from Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay allowed a single to Yadier Molina, but struck out David Freese to end the inning. 68 pitches.
Chase Utley was hit on the knee to lead of the fourth. He later broke up a potential double play, and Hunter Pence was safe at first. Victorino singled, sending Pence to third. Raul Ibanez then hit a towering fly ball, just inches away from a home run, but it was caught by Lance Berkman.
Halladay tossed a quick fifth inning, getting Chris Carpenter to ground into a double play after Nick Punto singled. The bottom of the fifth consisted of the Phillies 7-8-9 hitters in the lineup. It doesn't matter if Halladay hits or not, he does what he needs to do on the mound. Polanco and Ruiz, however, have been atrocious in this series, going a combined 3-34.
Roy Halladay was dealing, shutting down the Cardinals again in the sixth inning. The Phillies had only managed two hits against Carpenter, and really, really needed to come up big and score a couple of runs. The Cardinals were only leading by one run, and held that through another scoreless inning from Carpenter in the sixth.
At 89 pitches, Roy Halladay went out for the top of the seventh, and retired the side, striking out Molina and Nick Punto. After that, Cliff Lee began warming up in the bullpen.
A quick 1-2-3 inning from Carpenter was both disappointing, and not surprising in the least bit. Cliff Lee would not come into the game, rather, Roy Halladay would start the eighth inning at 105 pitches. Chris Carpenter slapped a single up the middle to lead off the inning, followed by a fielder's choice, leaving every safe after Furcal made it to first. Halladay intentionally walked Albert Pujols, loading the bases for Berkman, who struck out on pitch number 121. Matt Holliday flew out to Ibanez to end the inning, stranding the bases loaded.
That would be all from Roy Halladay. His line: 8 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB. 7 K. Simply incredible.
The "dark hole" of the lineup was due up in the eighth for the Phillies- Polanco and Ruiz. Again, nothing. Ross Gload came in to pinch hit for Roy Halladay and beat the throw to first after a strikeout. With two outs, Jimmy Rollins lined out in what could have been his last at bat as a Philadelphia Phillie.
Ryan Madson came in for the ninth inning, and shut down the Cardinals in order. One last shot for the Phillies. Here we go.
Zilch. That's what came from Utley's, Pence's, and Howard's bats in the bottom of the ninth. Just like last season, the season ended with Howard as the third out. I can't put into words how painful that is. Even worse, Howard went down while jogging to first after grounding out. Turned his ankle.
This is the end, Phillies fans. There's nothing left after tonight. This postseason was just one big punch in the stomach, to say the least. It's too early in October to be saying this, but, see you next season.
