2008 World Series: Philadelphia Phillies World Champions After Edging Tampa Bay Rays in Game Five

Brad Lidge locked up the Philadelphia Phillies first World Series title since 1980 and just their second in their 126-year history after striking out Eric Hinske in the bottom of the ninth and sealing a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

With the game tied 2-2 and resuming play in the bottom of the sixth inning Geoff Jenkins doubled off Grant Balfour and then moved to third on a Jimmy Rollins sacrifice. Jayson Werth then followed with a single to plate Jenkins and give the Phillies a 3-2 advantage.

Tampa tied the game in the top of the seventh though as Ryan Madson surrendered a one-out solo homer to Rocco Baldelli. Madson then gave up a single to Jason Bartlett who took second on a sacrifice bunt by J.P. Howell setting up a showdown between J.C. Romero and Akinori Iwamura. Iwamura hit a grounder up the middle that was gloved by Chase Utley and rather than try and get Iwamura at first he caught Bartlett trying to score on the play as Carlos Ruiz applied the tag at the plate to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh Philadelphia answered once again as Pat Burrell broke an 0-13 World Series slump with a double high off the center field wall, Eric Bruntlett came on to run for Burrell and he moved to third on a Shane Victorino ground out. Pedro Feliz then singled up the middle to score Bruntlett for the 4-3 lead.

Romero returned to the hill in the top of the eighth and after giving up a leadoff single to Carl Crawford he got B.J. Upton to ground into a double play and Carlos Pena lined out to left to end the inning.

The Phillies bats didn’t make any noise against the Rays big lefty David Price in the bottom of the eighth setting the stage for a ninth inning with Lidge on the mound. Having converted every save opportunity he had in the regular season and post season Lidge got Evan Longoria to pop out to Utley to start the frame but then gave up a single to Dioner Navarro. Fernando Perez came on to run for Navarro and quickly swiped second as Lidge faced Ben Zobrist. On a 1-2 pitch Zobrist hit a liner to right but Wert made the catch for the second out.

With two outs in the ninth Eric Hinske stepped to the plate for Bartlett and on a 1-2 count Lidge caught the lefty waving at a slider to end the game and win the World Series.

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