Best Forgotten

This one wasn't ugly, it was worse: boring. The Phillies sleep walked through game three of the playoffs and the Brewers, backs to the wall, did just enough things right to win one for the Wallbangers.

Let's just assume the heretofore free-swinging Brewers watched and listened to all of the pre-game hoopla about Jamie Moyer nibbling, changing speeds and driving batters nuts with his slow, slower, and slowest deliveries because they sure were patient right out of the gate. The first two batters of the game walked and scored. By the end of the second inning Moyer had thrown roughly sixty pitches and Milwaukee had enough runs to post the win.

Meanwhile, the Phillies managed to get men on base but they stranded them nearly every time. They even loaded the bases with none out in the ninth only to watch as Pedro Feliz, obviously guessing first-pitch fastball, ground into a double play. Carlos Ruiz grounded out to end the game. The Phillies never seemed to be in this one; by the middle of the game one had the feeling they were already thinking about game four.

There's hardly any reason to panic, even with the colossal figure of CC Sebathia looming in the background. Joe Blanton gets the ball today for the Phils. Win and he's remembered for a long time in this town. Lose and the Phils return to Citizens Bank Park where Cole Hamels will face Sebathia in a deciding game.