[tavo2311]

RESULTS: ROUND 1 - REGION 3:


7) 2011 Philadelphia Phillies vs. 10) 1933 Washington Senators

With the 1998 Yankees being upset earlier today this series takes on added importance. One of these teams will be the favorite on paper in the next round.

Game 1 sees yet another classic name, at least to a military guy like myself, in SP General Crowder. He will be opposed by future hall of famer Roy Halladay. Crowder would be spotted quite the cushion with Luke Sewell’s 2nd inning triple driving in three. The Senators would add another for an early 4-0 lead. The General would go 7.2 innings only giving up six hits and a lone run in the 5th. Chase Utley did chase him from the game with a two-run double to pull within one in the 8th though. Jack Russell was summoned from the Washington pen for the four out save and give the Senators the series lead.

Game 2 would be a pitching duel between Cliff Lee and Earl Whitehill. The game went all the way to the 8th at 1-1 when Lee ran into trouble. Luke Sewell again started the rally with an RBI double, and by the end of the frame three runs were in. Jack Russell would come on for the save for the second straight night and the series will go to our nation’s capital with the underdogs up a pair. The deeper into the Phillies’ rotation we go the more the advantage should swing to them so there’s no reason to panic….yet.

And now there is! Lefty Cole Hamels was not good, and “Lefty” Stewart certainly was. The Senators cruised to an 8-1 win to push Philly to the brink of being swept away. Heinie Manush and Goose Goslin each took Hamels deep in the dominating win. Still, maybe its recency bias, I still don’t think its out of the realm of possibility for Oswalt, Halladay, Lee, and Hamels to win four straight.

Game 4 was finally looking up for the Phils early with Chase Utley homering in the first. By the time Ryan Howard drove in a couple in the 5th the Phillies were back up 3-2. But Roy Oswalt would implode in the bottom of the 5th giving up six runs, capped by Joe Cronin’s 3-run shot. Washington was now leading 8-3 and would go on to the sweep with an 8-4 final.

I honestly thought this Phillies team had a chance as an under the radar team that could advance pretty deep. They have to be bitterly disappointed. Maybe I made the wrong choice after all, admitting these guys over the 2008 World Series winners. Joe Cronin hit .438, slugged .938, drove in five and scored five to take the MVP honors.