Philadelphia Phillies One Win Away From NLCS

The Phillies continue to follow the script to perfection.  Act three sees the Phillies give the ball to Jamie Moyer (16-7) Saturday in Milwaukee, with a chance to sweep the best-of-five series with the Brewers.

Act two started with some drama.

After striking out Mike Cameron on three pitches, Myers walked Ray Durham on four pitches.  In fact, it wasn't until Ryan Braun came to bat that a Brewer even took a swing—on Myers' eighth pitch.  Obviously, the Brew Crew came with a game plan to force Myers to throw strikes.

Fortunately, Myers induced a 1-2-3 double-play to escape the inning surrendering only a single run.

The Phillies came in with a game plan as well:  Make C.C. Sabathia throw LOTS of pitches.

It worked.

Last year's Cy Young winner lasted only 3.2 innings, throwing 98 pitches in the process, and was tagged for five earned runs.  It was the fourth consecutive game pitched on three days rest, and fortunately for the Phillies it caught up to him.

The killer blow was delivered by Shane Victorino, who blasted a grand slam to give the Phillies a 5-1 lead.

But it was Myers himself that got Sabathia rattled—at the plate no less.

Myers—who only had four hits all season—battled the Milwaukee moose for 19 pitches over two at bats, leaving Sabathia visibly shaking his head.  With each pitch, each foul ball, the Citizens Bank Park erupted—the knowledgeable Philly fans knowing that each pitch "wasted" on Myers got the Phillies closer to seeing the Brewer bullpen. 

Myers ended up working a 2-out walk in his first at-bat, keeping the inning alive, and allowing Victorino to come to plate later with the bases juiced.

The Phillies would not score the rest of the game.

They didn't need to. 

Brett Myers had it all under control.  With his arm—and his bat.