MLB 2K9 FRANCHISE BLOG - JBH3's Blog

JBH3's Blog

MLB 2K9 FRANCHISE BLOG

Posted on March 19, 2009 at 11:01 AM.

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Phillies Complete 4 gm Sweep of San Diego

The first game of this series was simmed because I was still using Kansas City at the time, but it resulted in a 11-10 victory thanks to 5 runs in the B9th allowing the Phillies to win.

The first user played game of this series was a duel between to of the NL�s best.

Jake Peavy

VS.

Cole Hamels

This game was my first extra inning affair for MLB 2K9 as it took 13 innings for the Phils to win it. Gregg Dobbs in the bottom of the 9th tied up the game on a PH 2B to score PR Eric Bruntlett from 2nd. From that point both teams would be in a dead tie, until the B13th when Philly had the top of the order coming up. Rollins started the inning off w/ a single, and then Shane Victorino hit a liner down the 1B line which would roll to the corner of the OF scoring J-Roll from 1st, and getting Shane a 3-bagger.

FINAL:
SD 2 8 0 - XBH 2 2B
PHI 3 13 1 - XBH 4 2B, 1 3B

WP: B. Lidge 1.0IP 2K
LP: C. Reinke 0.1IP 2H 1ER 1K

**NOTES**: Bullpen combined for 5 Ks in 4.0IPs.
Hamels: 7.2IP 5H 2R 7K
Peavy: 7.0IP 6H 1R 6K
Phils RBI: 1 (ea) Dobbs, Ibanez, and Victorino. Utley hit two 2Bs, Brian Giles went 2-4 w/ a 2B & RBI.

Player of the Game

Shane Victorino: 3/6 (triple, GW RBI)

3rd game of this series was another extra inning affair.

A walk-off HR by Ryan Howard (off Heath Bell) would give Philly the victory in the B10th.

Both starting pitchers were locked in a duel:

Brett Myers - 9.0IP 3H 7K
Chris Young - 8.0IP 3H 4K

Ryan Madson became the pitcher of record, and got the W after a scoreless, hitless 10th inning striking out 1. Only XBH in this game was Howard�s walk-off HR.

To complete the 4gm sweep of San Diego and extend the Philadelphia win streak to 5 games�

�Philly would need some clutch hitting to win it.

After posting 5 hits through 7 innings, and squandering opportunities w/ runners in scoring pos., Philly would have to play small ball to get that 1st run across the board. W/ one out in the bottom of the 8th C Chris Coste, starting w/ a LHP on the mound, walked w/ one out in the inning. Coste would get pulled in favor for PR Eric Bruntlett, and Joe Blanton, who pitched a fabulous game, would stay in to bunt Bruntlett to 2nd for the SAC. Now w/ a runner on 2nd, Philly had an opportunity to strike, and w/ Brad Lidge warming up in the Pen a run would more or less seal a victory for Philly�Right?

Jimmy Rollins would hold up his end of the bargain, as he sent a 2B to LF which would roll to the wall scoring Bruntlett from 2nd. With life in the inning, Rollins at 2nd, and Victorino coming up w/ a chance to extend Philly�s lead, SD P Chad Reinke would buckle down and get out of the inning getting Victorino to ground out to 2nd.

It was now time for the much heralded Philly closer Brad Lidge to do what he does best, close-out games. However, Lidge would record his first Blown Save of the season, which would also be his first since 2007. Intent on saving the game, and adding a W to the win column, Lidge would retire the first batter of the inning, Brian Giles, who flied out to RF. Adrian Gonzalez, SD�s best hitter, had a different plan though.

Gonzalez quickly got ahead in the count 2-0, and Gonzalez�s ability to change the game w/ one swing had Lidge�s composure faltering.

The next pitch, a 2-seamer on the outside corner, Lidge got over for his 1st strike. Trying the same location again Lidge would miss outside, count 3-1. Gonzalez, looking for his pitch would foul the next two pitches off. With a full count Lidge sent his 4-seamer, clocking around 95-97 for the game, in on Gonzalez, but did not get hit low enough and Gonzalez sent a belt-high fastball into the Philadelphia bullpen; Game tied 1-1.
Lidge would run into more trouble, after walking the next batter, Kevin Kouzmanoff, but would get his 2nd out of the inning after striking out Luis Rodriguez on 4 pitches. W/ Kouzmanoff on 1st, and two outs, Chase Headley would keep SD alive w/ a single to left. With runners on the corners, SD was fighting to end their 8 gm losing streak, and do everything they can to prevent a 4gm sweep. Nick Hundley though, proved to be no match for the Brad Lidge slider as Lidge got Hundley to ground out to 2nd baseman Chase Utley.

The damage was done though�Adrian Gonzalez�s solo HR tied up the game, and Lidge had his worst outing since the 2007 season - taking him 33 pitches to get 3 outs.

With Utley leading off he quickly breathed life into the stands as he sent a single into CF, but Ryan Howard doing what he does best OTHER THAN hit the longball struck out for SD�s 1st out. Jayson Werth hit a slow-rolling swinging bunt to the 3B which allowed Utley to safely reach 2nd, making SD�s only a play a throw to first for the 2nd out of the inning.

Could newly acquired Raul Ibanez become the hero??????

Answer. YES!

With two outs and a runner on second, having stranded 4 runners in scoring pos, Raul Ibanez sent a double to LF which would roll to the corner and score Chase Utley from 2nd.

Game Over! Philly wins their 5th straight, completes a 4 gm sweep of SD, and sends San Diego spiraling to their 9th straight loss w/ still two more road games coming in San Fran.

FINAL:
SD 1 7 0 - XBH 1 2B, 1 HR
PHI 2 8 0 - XBH 3 2Bs
WP: B. Lidge 1.0IP 2H 1ER 1BB 1K
LP: J. Hampson 0.1IP 1H 1R 1K

Player of the Game

Joe Blanton: 8.0IP 5H 1BB 8K

**NOTES**: SD SP W. LeBlanc: 3.2IP 5H 2BB 4K. Jimmy Rollins went 2-4, 2 2Bs, RBI, K. Raul Ibanez went 2-4 1 2B, RBI, K. Victorino - 1 SB, 1 CS. Philly�s last 4 wins have been awarded to their bullpen. PC PHI 118-38; SD 106-34. San Diego has lost 9 straight.