MLB

How Phillies made it to World Series

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Ryan Howard has been to the Phillies what Alex Rodriguez has been to the Yankees. In Game 4 of the NLDS against the Rockies, Howard hit a two-RBI double with the Phillies down to their last out and facing a winner-take-all Game 5. The Phillies won 5-4 to advance to the NLCS. Howard is 11-for-31 this postseason with two home runs, eight extra base hits and 14 RBIs in leading Philadelphia back to the World Series.

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Raul Ibanez (middle) led the charge in Citi Field that showed the Phillies, and not the Mets, were the team to beat in the NL East. Ibanez’s three-run homer in the 10th inning won the series for the Phillies en route to their third straight NL East title.

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The signing and success of Pedro Martinez in Philadelphia has to be another slap into the face to the Mets, who chose not to re-sign the 38-year-old righty this offseason. Martinez went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA after joining the Phillies in August and threw seven shutout innings in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. Martinez is expected to get a start in the World Series against the Yankees thanks to his big-game experience against the Bombers.

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The Phillies bailed out their star second baseman, Chase Utley, whose throwing error cost the team Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. Utley, who had 31 homers and 93 RBIs in the regular season, is a dangerous bat near the top of the Phillies’ lineup.

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When the Phillies rotation was in shambles in the beginning of the season, J.A. Happ stepped in and performed beautifully going 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA in his first full year in the big leagues. Happ will likely be used as the Phillies long reliever in the World Series.

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Jayson Werth may not be the best known in the team’s potent lineup, but the Phillies right-fielder blasted 36 home runs this season and should not be taken lightly by the Yankees pitchers.

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The Phillies won the NL East in spite of closer Brad Lidge, who blew 11 saves and had a 7.21 ERA this season. But Lidge, who was perfect in save opportunities last season, has found his old form in the postseason going 1-0 with three saves. He has yet to allow an earned run in five appearances against the Rockies and Dodgers.

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The Phillies could not have asked for more when they decided to trade the Indians for Cliff Lee in late July. Lee went 7-4 in the regular season as the Phillies coasted to the NL East title. But Lee’s value has been demonstrated more in the postseason as last year’s AL Cy Young winner is 2-0 and allowed two runs in 24 innings over three starts.

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It was an up-and-down regular season for Jimmy Rollins, who at one point was dropped to sixth in the Phillies order in a season when he hit .250. But as you will see, Rollins has redeemed himself this postseason.

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Cole Hamels may be the key in the World Series for the Phillies. Hamels was the MVP of last year’s Fall Classic, but has been awful this postseason, going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts.

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Shane Victorino will look to find the same success he enjoyed against CC Sabathia in last year’s NLDS. Sabathia, with the Brewers last season, served up a three-run homer to Victorino in Game 2 as Philadelphia cruised to a sweep of the Brewers on their way to a World Championship.

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Brett Myers and the Phillies celebrate their NLDS victory over the Rockies.

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This is where Jimmy Rollins atoned for a bad regular season. With the Phillies down to their last out in Game 4 of the NLCS, Rollins drilled a two-RBI double off of Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton that plated Carlos Ruiz with the winning run.

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Phillies manager Charlie Manuel accepts his second straight trophy for leading his team to the National League pennant. And for the second consecutive time, Philadelphia conquered the Dodgers in five games to advance to the World Series. This time, though, it won’t be the upstart Rays waiting for them.