Roy Oswalt loses to Edwin Jackson in NLDS Game 4 – MLB Update
The Philadelphia Phillies lost to St. Louis Cardinals 3-5 in game four of the National League Division Series on Wednesday, October 5 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.
A loss in this game would have eliminated the Cardinals from the playoffs, but more importantly, would have allowed Phillies to become the first team to qualify for the Championship Series from the National League.
However, as things stand now, the five-game series is level at two-each with the final at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Friday, October 7 to decide the fate of both teams.
In his ten career starts prior to this in the post-season, Roy Oswalt had managed a decent 5-0 record. Two of these wins had come against the Cardinals and the starter was favoured to bag yet another win in his near-perfect post-season career.
Phillies’ offence gave Oswalt a two-run lead to play with in the first inning, but the starter failed to cash in on the opportunity. Lance Berkman’s double in the first inning and the subsequent domination of David Freese from the plate was enough to hand
Oswalt his first post-season loss.
"It's good to get some early runs, for sure," Oswalt said. "I felt pretty comfortable after that. Just two bad pitches."
In the fifth inning, just as Oswalt threw a pitch, a squirrel rushed across the plate. The pitch was called a ball and Oswalt argued that the squirrel had distracted him, but to no avail.
Explaining his viewpoint, Oswalt said, "I didn't want to stop in the middle of my motion, so I threw it. I was wondering what size of animal it needed to be for it not to be a pitch."
While Oswalt argued on pity issues, Edwin Jackson bagged his first post-season win for the Cardinals and ensured that the Redbirds get one last chance to qualify for the Championship Series. Jackson’s spell of six immaculate innings for just two runs was
followed up brilliantly by the relief staff.
Phillies’ ace Roy Halladay will go against Cardinals’ ace Chris Carpenter in the final of the Division Series on October 7. If history is to be believed, it will surely be a tense encounter.
Tags: