Game 1 of The World Series

A short aside from the creator of this blog...the following post is an last minute topic decision to finish an assignment for this class. We were given any topic to write on and with that at the mercy of my fingertips I came up with nothing. In hindsight, I came up with a topic that I am passionate about, the wide world of sports. Sports is something that I can always write about, taken for granted that there won't be a strike any time soon...uh with that being said, please enjoy my breakdown of game one of the World Series.

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies played each other in a pitchers dual in game one of the world series. Fans didn't have to wait long to see that action get started when Tampa Bay pitcher Scott Kazmir started throwing pitches to Phillies batters in the top of the first inning. After Jimmy Rollins flied out to right field, Jayson Werth took a 3-2 count and was walked by Kazmir on the sixth pitch. Another six pitches later, Chase Utley hit a home run to right field giving Philadelphia the early lead 2-0.

Tampas first run came in the bottom of the 4th inning when Carl Crawford hit a solo homer to right field to cut the Phillies lead by half 2-1. The Rays scored their second run in the bottom of the 5th when Akinori Iwamura doubled to center allowing the previously walked batter, Jason Bartlett to jog across home plate unchallenged. Unfortunately for Rays fans this would be the only other run their team would produce for the evening.

After the fourth inning, the two starting pitchers Kazmir and Cole Hamels (Phillies) duked it out retiring their respective sides until the seventh inning where a pitching change was made by the Tampa Bay Rays. JP Howell replaced Scott Kazmir. The seventh inning started with Jayson Werth striking out swinging followed by a single to shallow center from Chase Utley. The Phillies fans favorite batter, ex grand-slam champion, Ryan Howard stepped up to the batters box only to strike out swinging but not before Utley reached third by a stolen base and a wild pitch by Howell. At this time Balfour for the Rays was called from the bull pen and came in to retire the side leaving stranded Philly runners in scoring position. Balfour pitched for the rest of the game for the Rays.

B. Lidge came in to pitch for the Phillies in the bottom of the ninth to get the save.

The Phillies took a close game from the Rays in game one from St. Petersburg, FL. The final score was 3-2, but both teams prior to the game were happy to be in the World Series after their respective playoff roads. Before starting this game the Philladelphia Phillies were (7-2) in the NL post season. The Phillies only allowed a combined two losses from both teams they faced in order to reach the big dance. The Milwaukee Brewers who reached the playoffs in a wild card went down to the Phillies three game to one in a series best of five. Then the Phillies faced the LA Dodgers who swept the lovable losers and my favorite team, the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers too followed the Brewers lead and fell to the Phillies in the NLCS best of seven game series four games to one.

The real talk of the baseball town was the Tampa Bay Rays young but hopeful team. A lot of critics were sceptical early in the season wondering if these boys were the real deal and yes they are. The Rays players are playing in the biggest games of their lives coming after a season where they finished a dismal 65-97. The Rays went from the worst record in baseball to the best record in baseball one year later. This years post-season for the Rays (7-4) has been a little more challenging than that of Philadelphia. First the Rays beat the Chicago White Sox three games to one and then turn around to beat the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. The Rays only won this best of seven series by one game (4-3).

No matter the road that both these baseball teams had to take, they are playing in the 2008 World Series. This is for the big cheese, the bragging rights, and to be able to say that they were the best baseball team that the 2008 season had to offer. Fans, families, and friends of both of these organizations should be proud that their team made it. Unfortunately, the end will be a little sweeter for some than others.

Go Cubbies!!!