By Tyler Kepner
PHILADELPHIA: For a quarter of a century, it was an agonizing cycle for Philadelphia sports fans. Hope, despair, bitterness. For 9,282 days, other places had earned the right to raise banners and hoist trophies. No U.S. city with so many teams had failed for so long.
Now it is over. Now it is Philadelphia's turn. A game that began with a deluge has washed away an epic drought. The Philadelphia Phillies have won the World Series.
They did it in Game 5 on Wednesday, edging the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3, in the completion of the first suspended game in postseason history.
It began on Monday, and rain and snow delayed it another day. For the chronically heartbroken, it was a catharsis worth the wait.
There is company now for Bednarik, Clarke, Dr. J and Tug in the pantheon of Philadelphia champions. Make room for the 2008 Phillies, who clinched the first major professional championship for the city since the 76ers won the NBA title on May 31, 1983.
Phillies win World Series....
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays will complete Game 5 of the World Series this evening at Citizens Bank Park.
First pitch is scheduled for 8:37 p.m. (et). The game will resume from the point where it left off on Monday, with the Phillies coming to bat in the bottom of the sixth in the 2-2 game.
Cole Hamels, who came into the game with a 4-0 record this postseason, was on the mound through the sixth inning, and he will lead off the bottom of the sixth. The Phillies, however, are expected to pinch-hit for him. The Rays last had reliever Grant Balfour on the mound.
Philadelphia holds a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and is hoping to wrap up a title, while the Rays aim to send the series back to Florida.
Rays, Phils to resume Game 5....
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - After rain caused the first suspended game in World Series history on Monday night, a wintry mix of snow and rain on Tuesday caused the remainder of the game, scheduled to resume on Tuesday night, to be postponed until Wednesday night at 8:37 (et).
"Snow go" for Game 5: Bad weather puts World Series on hold....
By TYLER KEPNER
PHILADELPHIA — A city that has waited a quarter-century for a major professional sports championship will have to wait even longer. The fifth game of the World Series was suspended in the middle of the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, with the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays tied, 2-2.
The Phillies, who lead the series by three games to one, were 10 outs from clinching a title in a driving rain. But the Rays tied the score in the top of the sixth, and before the bottom of the inning, the tarp was finally pulled over the infield.
The game was suspended at 11:10 p.m., after a 30-minute delay, making it the first World Series game to start and not last at least nine innings. The game is scheduled to be resumed Tuesday at 8 p.m., picking up where it left off on Monday.
Rain Halts Game 5; Will Resume Tuesday, Maybe....
By RICHARD JUSTICE
PHILADELPHIA — Dallas Green is here, smiling and relaxed, looking younger than his 74 years. Steve Carlton and Robin Roberts are around, too, still part of the family.
Bill Giles and Harry Kalas almost never miss a game. Ed Wade isn’t here, but it’s his dream — and years of his work — these Philadelphia Phillies are on the verge of completing. His legacy is about to be rewritten.
They’re all part of this franchise of such rich, tortured history, this franchise of Mike Schmidt and Richie Allen and Jim Bunning, this franchise known more for its failures than its success.
Phillies thump Rays 10-2 in Game 4 of World Series....
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
ST. PETERSBURG -- Jason Bartlett could practically hear the rumbling coming down the third-base line as he tried to focus -- a fastball coming at him from the mound, and Cliff Floyd charging toward his left eye.
A thing of beauty, this was not. With Floyd asked to participate in what he said was the first squeeze play of any kind in his long Major League career, there was contact, but Bartlett's first attempt at executing the fourth-inning safety squeeze went foul.
Then, unsatisfied, Rays manager Joe Maddon flashed it down to third-base coach Tom Foley again -- a move that surprised many, but not the Rays. This time, Bartlett found grass between the white lines, and Floyd crossed the plate with Tampa Bay's final run in a 4-2 victory over Philadelphia in Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday night.
"The way Joe teaches it, anybody that's on third base should score, if it's done correctly," Bartlett said. "Cliff's not that slow. He may be big and middle-aged, but he can run pretty good."
Small ball pays dividends for Rays....
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Following last night's 3-2 win in the opening game of the World Series, the Philadelphia Phillies are hoping to wrap up the first leg of the best-of-seven series with another win tonight. Following this evening's game at Tropicana Field, the two clubs will move to Philadelphia for Game 3 Saturday.
The pitching matchup for tonight's game has Brett Myers getting the start for the Phillies against Tampa Bay's James Shields.
Myers vs. Shields in World Series game 2 tonight....
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
Chase Utley waited through a one-week layoff, the lineup introductions and the Backstreet Boys' take on the National Anthem.
And then, just 14 pitches into the 2008 World Series between Utley's Phillies and the Rays, he used one swing of the bat to prove rust would not be a factor in Game 1 on Wednesday night.
Utley's two-run homer off Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir in the first inning set the tone for the Phillies' eventual 3-2 victory at Tropicana Field.
Not bad for an at-bat that began with a bunt attempt.
"I guess it turned out pretty well," Utley said.
Utley's homer sets tone for Phillies....
By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays are going to the playoffs.
Saturday's emotionally-driven 7-2 win over the Twins in front of a home sellout crowd of 36,048, clinched the Rays' franchise-first postseason appearance. Additionally, the win -- coupled with Boston's loss to Toronto -- extends Tampa Bay's lead atop the American League East to 2 1/2 games.
The Rays' Division Series playoff destination will shake out in the final week of the season. Assuming the Rays win the AL East and Boston wins the Wild Card, the Rays will open at home against the Central winner, either the White Sox or Twins, while the Red Sox would open at the Angels, who have the AL's best record. Should Boston win the East and the Rays get the Wild Card, the Rays would open at Anaheim, while the Red Sox would host the Central Division champion. The Division Series is a best-of-five set.
Carlos Pena's two-out double in the third inning wasn't just clutch -- it had some luck involved, as well. Initially, it appeared the Tampa Bay first baseman popped up to Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer, but the ball hit Tropicana Field's catwalk in foul territory and per the dome's ground rules, was a dead ball. After working the count full, Pena laced a double hit into center field to plate the Rays' first pair of runs.
The offense padded starter Scott Kazmir's cushion with three runs in the fifth inning and a pair of solo homers from Fernando Perez and Cliff Floyd in the sixth and seventh frames, respectively.
Rays clinch club's first playoff spot....
