Roy Halladay pitched six edecent innings and the Phillies remained alive in the postseason with a 4-2 win over San Francisco in Game five of the National League Championship Series.
The Phillies took advantage of a crucial error from Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff during a third inning that can only be described as "crazy." Jayson Werth provided insurance in the eighth inning off of San Francisco reliever Ramon Ramirez.
The Giants now need a win in Philadelphia and they have two tries to get it done and make it to the World Series for the first time since 2002.
A quick first inning saw three up and three out for the Phillies, with the leadoff man flying out, and the next two batters set down on a flyout and groundout respectively. The Giants had a productive first, however, jumping to a 1-0 lead after Andres Torres was given the leadoff walk, advanced to third on a hit n' run from Freddy Sanchez and then scoring from Buster Posey before the three outs were finally dished out.
The second was just as quick for the Phillies, going 1-2-3 again. But they came back with a vengeance in the third, picking up three runs before the inning was out. Raul Ibanez hit a a leadoff single into center field and then Lincecum hit Carlos Ruiz with a pitch after working him to an 0-2 count. Roy Halladay then hit a sacrifice bunt that looked foul, before Posey threw to third to try and get Ibanez out, but the throw pulled Sandoval off base and he was safe - Halladay thought it was foul, and hadn't made it to first yet, so "Panda," threw him out.
Shane Victorino then hit a single to Aubrey Huff at first, but he couldn't handle it and two runs ended up scoring as the ball rolled into center. Placido Polanco followed up with a single that saw Victorino home to put the Phillies up 3-1. Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth were the last two outs.
The Giants responded with one run in the fourth, courtesy of a Cody Ross double. Ross was also the reason the inning ended, however, getting thrown out at third on a baserunning error.
Tim Lincecum was spot on after the third, retiring eleven straight through six. The Giants came into the inning with Posey-Burrell-Ross set to go. Posey took a walk and Burrell flew out, while Ross worked to a full count and fouled away ball after ball, before giving Halladay his fourth strikeout of the night, bringing up two outs. Pablo Sandoval came in and belted a single into right field, Posey stopped at second, but Juan Uribe struckout to end the inning.
Lincecum gave up a leadoff single to Rollins at the top of the 7th inning. Rollins advanced from first to second, and then second to third on steals. Carlos Ruiz was then walked to first, and pinch hitter Ross Gload came in and smacked a hard one to first base, where Aubrey Huff made a fantastic catch and stepped on first to end the inning on a huge double play to get Lincecum out of the jam.
It was an uneventful eighth inning, but when Ramon Ramirez took the mound for the Giants instead of Brian Wilson at the top of the ninth, he gave off a home run to Jayson Werth to put the Phillies up 4-2. They got the next two outs, and the Giants couldn't get any production in the ninth.
Play goes back to Philadelphia for game six in this National League Championship Series, and will resume on Saturday.