Stayin’ Alive

And the Phillies are going back home to. With the mantra, “one game at a time,” the Phils took game five and made it a 3-2 NLCS with a huge win Thursday night, 4-2.

Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum did battle again. But it was the three-run third inning for the Phils that put Lincecum behind and gave Halladay the lead to work with.

Doc went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with a rare two-walk game while striking out five. Lincecum went seven, giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits and walk with seven strike outs.

The Phillies got a little cushion from Jayson Werth, whose solo home run in the top of the ninth made it a 4-2 game. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Jayson Werth went yard in the ninth inning, his 13th career in the NL playoffs which is tied for the most all time with Albert Pujols, Chipper Jones, and Jim Edmonds. The solo shot that landed just over the right field wall made it a 4-2 game, giving Brad Lidge the cushion he needed for the save.

A defensive lapse for San Francisco led to the offensive surge in the third. Raul Ibanez led-off with a single, his first of a two-hit night. Carlos Ruiz followed up with getting in the way of a pitch to put two on.

After a sacrifice bunt by Halladay, Shane Victorino reached on an error by Aubrey Huff to score two and give the Phils the lead. Placido Polanco followed up with an RBI single to make it a 3-1 game.

San Francisco got a run back in the fourth when Pat Burrell and Cody Ross hit back-to-back doubles to make it 3-2. But that was as close as the Giants were going to get this game.

With the series heading back to Philadelphia, the Phillies will have Roy Oswalt on the hill to face Jonathan Sanchez, a rematch of game two. Sanchez got hit around a bit while Oswalt pitched eight spectacular innings. A repeat performance will force a game seven.

HR: Werth (2).

WP: Halladay. LP: Lincecum. S: Lidge.

Boxscore.

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The Return of Rolen

I am very excited for this three game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. For the sixth time, I will get to see my favorite Phillie return home to with stand the boos and idiots who didn’t appreciate what he brought to this franchise. Scott Rolen is still a true Phillie in my book.

Rolen had a remarkable career in Philaldelphia, batting a career .281, 150 homers, and 559 RBI’s in seven seasons. He won the rookie of the year in 1997 and tallied four of his seven Gold Gloves while here. He was also an all star in his final year in Philly and added four more in St. Louis.

After his feud with the Phillies front office, mainly Dallas Green who said he was trying to be better than he really was, and was upset at the Phillies lack of urgency to win, Rolen refused to sign a contract extension in his final year. He wasn’t being greedy and he wasn’t sticking it to the city he loved to play for, he just hated his boss and the situation he was in. Rolen was traded to the Cardinals along with a prospect for Placido Polanco, Bud Smith, and Mike Timlin.

Rolen went to St. Louis from 2002 until 2007 and won a World Series there in 2006. Along with Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds, he helped form a dangerous 3-4-5 spot in the lineup. He was then traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Troy Glaus.

Rolen has had to battle injuries he sustained while playing in Veterans Stadium for most of his career. His aggressive play, tenacity in the field, and amazing skill with the glove at third base wore him down as he would dive along the rock-hard surface in the Vet. He would continue to struggle with injuries after leaving Philly with the torn shoulder labrum he sustained in Philly along with his constant sore lower back.

Rolen has played some great baseball this year for Toronto, hitting .320 in 54 games. His power numbers have dropped as he has only three homers and 18 doubles with 19 RBI’s.

I’ll be at Wednesday’s game wearing my Rolen #17 Phillies jersey and cheering hard for him in full force.