Baseball's Most Exciting Games, No. 27: When You Don't Turn Two

Game 4, 2009 NLDS: Philadelphia Phillies at Colorado Rockies

October 12, 2009, Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

Phillies lead series 2-1.

The 2009 National League Division Series was already a little behind schedule when the Phillies and Rockies met in Game 4. After splitting the first two games in Philadelphia, the teams had to sit through two days off to wait out a blizzard before playing Game 3, which the Phillies won 6-5 with a run in the top of the ninth. 

So the Rockies were facing elimination at home in Game 4, but the extra day off allowed them to start their ace, Ubaldo Jimenez, to try to keep their season alive. Of course, the Phillies also had the extra day off, so their ace, Cliff Lee, also got his second start of the series. 

As might have been expected, the aces did their job, and the game went into the 8th with the Phillies leading 2-1. The Phillies loaded the bases in the 8th on three walks against the Rockies bullpen, but they couldn't score, giving the Rockies some life. But first, the Rockies would have to figure out Lee.

Fowler and Utley somehow avoiding
each other in the 8th inning.

Like so many games when the pressure is high, Game 4 turned more on a couple of plays that weren't made rather on plays that were. The first turning point came in the bottom of the 8th against Lee when, with one out and one on, Todd Helton grounded softly to second. It looked like a sure inning-ending double play, but Rockies baserunner Dexter Fowler, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, and the ball all converged, a traffic accident waiting to happen. Fowler leaped over Utley as he fielded the ball, somehow avoiding touching him and earning an interference call. Likely distracted, Utley flipped the ball wildly to second, and everybody was safe.

That near-double play knocked Lee out of the game in favor of Ryan Madson. After a fantastic diving catch by left fielder Ben Francisco, pinch-hitter Jason Giambi hit a single to left to tie the game. The next batter, catcher Yorvit Torrealba doubled to deep center to give Colorado a 4-2 lead.

Now only three outs from forcing a Game 5, it was the Rockies' turn to rue a grounder that they couldn't turn into a double play. This time, the double play that could have been would have ended the game, but in all fairness, Shane Victorino's one-out grounder was probably hit too softly to turn two. And unlike the Phillies, the Rockies did get the lead runner, putting them one out from a win. 

That turned into one strike from a win when closer Huston Street got ahead of Utley 0-2. Street lost Utley to a walk, however, then lost the lead when Ryan Howard doubled to deep right. The next batter, Jayson Werth, drove Howard home with a single, and the Phillies were suddenly back in front.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies brought in reliever Scott Eyre instead of normal closer Brad Lidge. It may have been because Lidge had thrown 20 pitches in a frigid Game 3 the night before, or it may have been because there were a couple of good lefties coming up for the Rockies. Either way, it was almost disastrous for the Phillies as the Rockies ended up with two runners on and two outs. Lidge finally came on, facing Troy Tulowitzki in a plate appearance with a leverage index of 6.81. Tulowitzki struck out, and the Phillies won 5-4 to advance to the NLCS.

After falling short in 2009, it took the Rockies eight seasons to make it back to the playoffs. Philadelphia, meanwhile, ended up advancing all the way to their second straight World Series, but they couldn't repeat as champions, losing to Yankees. 

Game 4, 2009 NLDS Overall Rank: 27 Top 10 Swing: 217 Top Play: Howard's 9th inning double (WPA of 38% for Philadelphia) Loser's largest WE: 96 Colorado leading 4-2, B9, 2 out, runner on second, Utley batting. Average LI: 1.62 Highest leverage moment: 6.81 (Troy Tulowitzki strikes out to end the game)