In the Playoff Pulse series, our MLB editor takes on a hot October topic.For a one-run game in October, Game 1 of the World Series wasn't exactly a thriller. That's not because it lacked tension or it was a poorly-played affair. It's because Game 1 played exactly to form. As they have three times already this October, the Phillies breezed to victory with Cole Hamels, their best pitcher, on the mound.
A dazzling performance from Hamels is exactly what people expected out of the Phillies, even though they are overwhelmingly considered the underdog in the World Series.
The hard work, and presumably the real drama, lies ahead in this Fall Classic, and Game 2 should be the beginning of it all.
A win from Hamels in the opener is what the Phillies needed to turn the World Series into a competitive one. Everything came easy. Hamels dominated for seven innings, showing once again he's the best starting pitcher in October, and Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge proved unhittable again in relief. The next time Philadelphia will have the starting pitching edge is the next time Hamels steps on the mound.
In order to win it all, the Phillies are going to have to figure out how to get a win without their ace on the mound. And unlike the Rays, Philadelphia is looking at a significant drop in quality from its No. 1 starter to its No. 2.
In the NLDS and NLCS, Brett Myers and Joe Blanton were able to come through, but the pitchers they faced were CC Sabathia on short rest and the inexperienced Chad Billingsley (Myers) and Jeff Suppan and Derek Lowe on short rest (Blanton). Things are about to get a whole tougher.
James Shields awaits Myers Thursday night. Shields is only 1-2 in the postseason, but he was very good in the ALCS and the Phillies will not be able to rely on the fluke hitting heroics of Myers to get another win. Then Jamie Moyer, who has been nothing but awful in October, will have to take on ALCS MVP Matt Garza. Shields and Garza are, quite simply, better pitchers than Myers and Moyer and it's not even particularly close.
World Series Storylines - Game 1
Phillies 3, Rays 2 (Read Recap | Check Box Score)
Just as he did in the NLDS and NLCS, ace Cole Hamels got the Phillies off on the right foot in the World Series. The southpaw allowed only two runs over seven innings to pick up his fourth win of the postseason and stake Philadelphia to a 1-0 lead over Tampa Bay in the Fall Classic.
Elsa, Getty Images
After almost a week without live action, Chase Utley set the tone early and showed that the Phillies' bats were far from rusty with a two-run homer in the first inning. Utley also went deep in Game 1 of the NLCS.
Winslow Townsend, Pool / Getty Images
Scott Kazmir pitched six solid innnings opposite of Hamels, but was plagued by a rough first frame and control problems. Kazmir walked four hitters in his first World Series start.
Winslow Townsend, Pool / Getty Images
For the 47th time this year, Brad Lidge came on in the ninth to close out a victory. Lidge is still perfect in save opportunities this year and the Phillies remain undefeated in 2008 when holding a lead in the eighth inning.
Elsa, Getty Images
Carl Crawford got the Rays on the board in the fourth inning, sending a solo home run into the right field seats against Hamels.
Chris O'Meara, AP
After a red-hot ALCS, B.J. Upton got off to frustrating start in the World Series. Upton grounded into a pair of double plays, squandering run-scoring opportunities in the first and third innings of Game 1.
Jamie Squire, Getty Images
The Rays need a win in Game 2 to head to Philadelphia on level footing and avoid a big hole, so in that sense the pressure has shifted to them in the World Series.
But the Phillies are still where they were before Game 1, wondering how to win without Hamels. Beating the 84-win Dodgers from the NL West sans Hamels is one thing, but taking down the 97-win Rays from the AL East without him is entirely another.
Either way -- with a Phillies win in Game 2 or 3 or a Rays win in both -- the intrigue is going to ratchet up. If Philadelphia gets a second win before Hamels returns to the bump, then an upset goes from unlikely to very possible. If Tampa Bay jumps out to a 2-1 lead in the series, manager Charlie Manuel will be tempted to bring his ace back on short rest to keep them above water in the series and set him up for a potential Game 7 start.
The World Series combatants felt each other out in Game 1, but ultimately there were no surprises and no tough choices for the men controlling the gears of each club. Tougher times await Manuel and Joe Maddon, and that can only mean more drama (hopefully much more) for baseball fans to enjoy.
Yesterday's Hero: Hamels, who joined select company with his fourth win of the 2008 postseason. Honorable mention to Chase Utley.
Yesterday's Goat: B.J. Upton, who killed a pair of early rallies by grounding into crippling double plays.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-23-2008 @ 8:05AM
shawn said...
How can everybody still be down on the phils after a game 1 win? The Phillies play good team ball and when one player is not performing there is always somebody else picking up the slack. The Rays are a great hitting team but they got shut down and looked overmatched last night, especially when the Phillies brought in Madson and Lidge.
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10-23-2008 @ 8:42AM
James said...
Andrew,
On my flight back to Philly from SW Florida yesterday, I read an article in the local Sports section by a writer predicting a sweep by the Rays...with all the prognostications and analysis, the Series remains a series of games to be played by players who rise or fall to the occasion of the national audience...a sweep by the Rays is no longer possible and all the rationalizations and justifications are just that...it should be enough to be said that both teams have proven themselves worthy to still be playing in October, and for their respective fans, the faith of fanship is rewarded with the hope that one of the teams will be a Champion, and for the remaining team, there will be abiding hope for next year...analysis is best left for the stove-pipe fans of winter...let the games be played...
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10-23-2008 @ 2:47PM
Joey Zazza said...
Andrew,
Let me know when you find that clue.
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10-23-2008 @ 2:19PM
wilson said...
Hamel was to much for key hitters of the Rays in game 1. Got to give him his props, he made Upton, Longoria, etc, look like they did not know what to swing at.
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10-23-2008 @ 2:33PM
JOHN said...
The game would have been much better to listen to had Fox Sports not hired dumb and dumber to broadcast the fall classic again! These guys don't have a clue or, if they do, they don't project it on TV. One example was a comment about a one handed swing by the batter which was followed by a slowmo clip showing both hands on the bat. Get rid of these two and make it enjoyable to watch baseball!!!!!
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10-23-2008 @ 2:58PM
jimmy said...
Take a look at the lineup of hitters for the philles tonight, they are putting in dobbs and stairs. And by the way look at Myers last 10 starts. The Phils score 6 or 7 tonight with Murders row comming out hitting. Rollins and Howard are guys you can only hold down so long. If Howard breaks out tonight the series won't get back to Tampa.
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10-23-2008 @ 4:03PM
Herby said...
Boy, 1st the brewers were supposed to stop the fitins then the hot hitting dodgers who killed the favored cubs,couldn`t hit the phils ,except moyer, now the rays. theres a reason why the fitins are here, phillies in 6
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10-23-2008 @ 5:36PM
Thomasina Amy said...
I live in NYC now, but make no mistake -- I am a Philly girl through and through!! I'm pulling for my hometown team! GO PHILLIES!! When the Phillies win, I'm pulling out my Mummer's umbrella heading home. You'll find me down on Broad Street raisin' my umbrella in one hand and eatin' a Pat's cheesesteak with the other! Thanks Mom (Beth) for taking me to my first Phillies game! I miss you. Shout out to Cedar Park Neighbors and B'more Ave in SW Philly!!
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10-23-2008 @ 6:40PM
Justin said...
That was a pretty good game. I am not a fan of either team, but if I had to cheer for one I think it would be the Phillies.
I enjoy watching baseball. Good luck to them, may the best team (at the time mind you) win.
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10-24-2008 @ 12:05AM
qfregistar said...
whooohooo,,,look at the phillies they won,,the game 1..whooohooo,,,oops,,they're not going to win the world series...oh well...maybe they should keep hamel pitching every single game...ahhahahahha..not....phillie suck!!!!!!Rays are going to kick some ass....ahhahaha..bring on the phillie cheesestake to tampa,,,,yum yum...phillies forfiet the series..i dont think it will even go to game 3,,,they are so afraid of the rays!!!
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10-24-2008 @ 1:53AM
richards said...
Hammel? :( Man, why can't the yankees have pitchers like that? Why must our pitchers punch the dug out wall and be injured all year long. Hideki Irabu, Carl Pavano,Randy Johnson, Javier Vasques.... the list goes on... and now there is this idiot http://www.archivehive.com/2008/10/joba-chamberlain-arrested/ ok I am not just an angry hater yankees fan. ok maybe I am but post season isnt post season without the yankees. Just let the devil rays win for god's sake. These kids played their hearts out this season.
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