Philadelphia Phillies: Post season results – Part 1 – MLB 2011
After making the most of their available opportunities during the regular season, Philadelphia Phillies were looking to give strong and consistent results in the playoffs season as well.
With a sensational 102-60 win-loss record, the Phillies looked on top of their game play in 2011. Charlie Manuel and his men were now looking to maintain their impressive form in a best of five playoffs series against the defending champions St. Louis Cardinals.
The NL East title holders dominated their rivals in almost all aspects in the opening game to take a crucial 1-0 lead in the series. Thrashing the defending champions with so much authority, the Phillies proved to the baseball world what they were capable of.
Although they made a very shaky start to the contest, the Phillies bounced back absolutely brilliantly to floor their opponents 11-6.
Roy Halladay was the star of the show for the Phillies as he displayed some high quality hitting skills. Driving in a go ahead run and hitting a three run home run in sixth, he let his side to get off to the best possible start to the series. Earlier, Phillies cruised to their fifth straight division title. The players and the management now had eyes set on their second World Series title in four years.
"I couldn't think of a worse start and putting your team in a hole like that," Halladay said. "But you get to this point, you're not going to pack it in."
"He was kind of like a 'Rocky' movie," manager Charlie Manuel said of Halladay. "He got mad after he gave up that homer. That ticked him off and he hung in there and he got going. But he's special. He's everything people talk about."
However, despite having the winning momentum on their side, the Phillies failed to live up to the expectations in game two and the Cardinals battled back to level the series at 1-1.
The Phillies had their chances during the contest but they were unable to raise their gameplay at crucial moments. The Cardinals, on the other hand, took complete advantage of Phillies unforced errors and they rallied past the NL East team to secure an important victory.
Jon Jay and Albert Pujols made useful contributions for the Cardinals in a thrilling 5-4 win over the Phillies.
"I thought that was my only option," Jay said. "I thought I got him all right, and I was hoping that the ball would come out.”
Pujols, once again, led the hitters pack as he drove in a go ahead single. While Cliff Lee gave up four runs, the hitters did an absolutely amazing job to let the Cardinals even their NL playoff matchup at one game each.
Continued in part 2
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