What a weekend! Starting Friday afternoon, early evening, I'm feeling like a dark cloud is descending on Philadelphia fans. Here we head into the top of the ninth with absolutely no offense. This supposed power lineup had shown no life up until this point. As I'm watching, I'm thinking to myself, "well, will this series even get to game 3." And of course, Hoskins starts off the top of the ninth by striking out. Then.... the fun began! Realmuto singles to left, Harper walks, Castellanos walks, and then Bohm gets hit by a pitch! 2-1. They replace Bohm with Sosa (extra speed on the bases!). Segura hits a nicely placed ball into right field and two runs score (3-2)!!! Stott hits into a fielder's choice but with his speed, Sosa slides into home for the insurance run (4-2)! I'm getting greedy...I want more runs! Marsh singles to left field and Segura scores from second (5-2). I want more runs!!!! Schwarber hits a sacrifice fly to center to score Stott (6-2). Then Hoskin strikes out.
Ok, let's go 1-2-3 inning...please!!!! Eflin comes in to close out the game. Ok, reports are he's looking good lately as a reliever. Goldscmidt flies out. Arenado singles to right. We don't need this!!!! Please don't let back in the game!!! Just writing this I begin to get anxious! DeJong flies out to center field. ONE MORE OUT!!! Eflin then walks Carlson. Can't we just have one 1-2-3 ninth!!! Gorman singles to right field scoring Arenado (6-3). Why? Why does this happen all of the time!!!! Molina strikes out and the Phillies complete their great comeback!
At this point, I'm already starting to panic about Saturday's game. Especially being a night game. How will Nola pitch? Will the bats wake up and the top of the lineup start to hit? Harper starts the 2nd inning with a solo home run. Ok, we've got one run. Anxiety is running through me as we show nothing until the top of the fifth. Bohm (MVP of this short series) starts off with a double into center field. Marsh moves Bohm to third on a sacrifice to the pitcher. Segura is hit by a pitch...ok now we are getting ready for another big rally!!! Stott walks...oh baby! Here we go! Schwarber hit a sacrifice to right field and Bohm scores (2-0). Hoskin strikes out swinging (another strikeout...put the ball in play!!!).
Nola continues to shut down the Cards and yet I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. The bottom of the eighth begins with Alvarado pitching. Please have a strong inning!!! Edman grounds out to third (5 more outs to go!). Nootbar walks and Pujols singles to left field. Oh crap, here we go!!! Alvarado pulls himself together and strikes out Goldschmidt and Arenado strikes out (Ok, 3 outs to go)!
Bottom of the ninth, here comes Eflin. Once again I'm begging for a 1-2-3 inning. Two quick outs! Ok, one more ...1 strike away...Dickerson singles to left field. Again, 1 strike away, Molina singles to right center field. First and third and all we need is one stinking out!!! Now remember once again in the top of the ninth, Sosa came in for Bohm after he was walked. Edman hits a foul ball on the third base side and Sosa with his speed races over to make the third out! THE PHILLIES SWEEP!!!!
Of course, by then, it's past midnight now and I'm so worked up I can't fall asleep. I'm just too worked up. I finally doze off knowing the Birds were up next. Will this be a game where they get ahead of themselves knowing the Cowboys were in town the following week?
The Eagles get off to a good start, scoring touchdowns on two of their first three drives. Yet, show nothing the rest of the first half. Allowing the Cards to be down only by four at halftime (14-10).
They start the second half with a nice starting drive but a holding call kills their drive and they settle for a field goal (17-10). The Cards move the ball but go nowhere. After the Cards punt, once again another nice drive is killed by a holding penalty which results in a punt. The Cards march down the field and tie up the game (17-17). Where is the defense? Stop those short passes!!!
So now I'm starting to panic.
The Birds get the ball back with 9:43 left in the game. They begin a methodical march down the field chewing up the clock. I'm saying, "just keep using up the clock and never let the Cards touch the ball again." They get the clock down to 1:45 with Dicker's field goal (20-17). Ok, D it's time to step up! As the previous Card's touchdown drive they begin to dink and donk their way down the field. Meanwhile, I see that the Cowboys have their game in hand against the Rams. Stickin Cowboys!!!! Then Murray makes a huge blunder and spikes the ball. I'm not sure but I think he believes they made the first down. Ammendola comes into the game to attempt a 43-yard field goal, the Eagles call a timeout and now I'm pacing the floor waiting for the kick. I don't want to go into overtime, I just don't trust the offense moving the ball with the holding calls on previous drives.
The kick is up....WIDE RIGHT!!!!....WIDE RIGHT!!!
EAGLES 5-0, PHILLIES ONTO NEXT ROUND OF PLAYOFFS!!!!
So, Philly...getting any sleep?