Phillies Win Wild One to Bring NLCS Back Home

Halladay comes through, Phils stay alive in NLCS

A sacrifice that probably shouldn’t have been, a hustle play, a booted ball and an RBI single was all the Phillies needed to slay “The Freak” and bring the NLCS back to Citizens Bank Park.

Roy Halladay outdueled Tim Lincecum in a rematch of aces, keeping the Phightins alive with a 4-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night that pulled the Phillies within 3-2 in the NL championship series.

Halladay suffered a mild groin strain during the second inning, Charlie Manuel said after the game.

That could explain why Halladay struggled with his control throughout the game.

Halladay hardly had no-hit stuff, but he had his edge. Doc stared down former Phillie Pat Burrell after a called third strike to end the first, and Burrell jawed at Halladay while sprinkling in profanities. Clearly fuming in the dugout afterward, Halladay returned to the mound seemingly unfazed by that moment or a steady drizzle that hit during parts of the later innings.

Doc kept dealing, even if he wasn't his most dazzling.

He still managed to earn the win -- allowing two runs on six hits and two walks through six innings.

As for the offense: Placido Polanco hit an RBI single after Aubrey Huff's third-inning fielding error on a hard hit Shane Victorino grounder allowed the first two runs to score.

Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz scored on Huff’s error. They had advanced on a Halladay bunt that was called fair despite appearing to be foul in replays. On the sacrifice Ibanez ran hard to third beating the throw.

So was the bunt fair?

"I don't know," Halladay said. "It happened so quick."

Jayson Werth homered for an insurance run in the ninth. He also made an amazing throw to gun down Cody Ross at third base to end the fourth inning.

Jose Contreras, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge combined for three scoreless innings to secure the win. Madson struck out the side in the eighth and Lidge came in for his first save of the NLCS.

The two-time reigning NL champions forced a Game 6 back on Saturday and another cross-country trip.

San Francisco put its celebration on hold. The Giants now must win once in two tries at Philly for the franchise's fourth pennant since moving West in 1958.


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