Phils Clinch Second Straight NL East Crown!

For the second consecutive season, the Phillies are your NL East Champions, outlasting the Nationals to clinch the division. This year's trip to the champagne room was a little less dramatic than the finale we saw in 2007, with the Phillies seemingly in control for the final few games of the season. It was pretty damn close though...

The Nationals definitely didn't come to Philly to hand the division to the Phillies, and they left little on the field. Jamie Moyer kept them stymied at the plate though, exiting the mound to a nice ovation with a 3-1 lead in the 6th. But some struggles in the 8th inning allowed the Nats to get within one, no doubt stopping hearts around the Delaware Valley. A collision between Shane Victorino and J-Roll left the centerfielder laying on the field, grimacing in pain while the Nats plated their second run of the game. Ryan Madson powered through it though, ending the top half of the frame with a strikeout that sent the Bank faithful into a frenzy. An unslowed Shane Vic added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning, scoring from first on a liner from Pedro Feliz. They would need it.

Then it was time for Brad Lidge to close it out, just as he has in every opportunity that has come his way all season. Entering the game, Lidge was a perfect 40 for 40 in save opportunities, and he made it 41 today. And not without some drama, as he gave up a run, and then ended the game with a double play with the bases loaded. (Harry's call here)

The whole lineup performed solidly for the Phils, showing the kind of top-to-bottom, close-game production that complements good postseason pitching so well. Over the course of a season that can seem endless at times, it's great to see the Phils get solid pitching and clutch hitting when it counts. Whereas the team that suffered a mid-summer malaise might have choked it away, the early-fall iteration of this Phillies team was on point.

Elsewhere in the NL: On the strength of a brilliant 3-hit, complete game shutout by Johan Santana, the Mets won today too. They still could sneak into a wild card berth with the Brewers trying very hard to out-collapse them. The Brew Crew flopped this afternoon in a game dominated by Cubs starter Ted Lilly, but they'll start CC Sabathia tomorrow against some Cubs bench players.

Tomorrow, we'll find out what fate awaits the Phillies in the postseason.

Comments

[John B.]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ... Lets go!

[Joe]

I'm just laughing uncontrollably to do something with my accelerated heart rate. Thank you Brad "Heart Attack" Lidge. NL EAST CHAMPS!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[The Polish Punch]

THEY DID IT!!!!!!! THEY DID IT!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT BUT THEY DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mr. Bryan]

Please tell me that Harry calling the last inning will be available somewhere?? Great job boys, you deserve it!

[PhiPhan5648]

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOO!

GO PHILS!

NL EAST CHAMPS THREE TIMES IN MY LIFETIME!

1993!

2007!

2008! WOOOHOOO!

Today we celebrate! Tommorow, we get ready for the PLAYOFFS!

[ricky]

@ Mr. Bryan: the mlb.tv radio feed was delayed by about a minute it was nice to see it on tv then hear Harry call it BEAUTIFULLY.

Seriously it was a great call. Harry YOU are the man.

[Walklett]

Phew...more a feeling of relief than joy.

Everybody should do interviews with goggles on.

[GreggyD]

It didn't come easy, but WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS AGAIN!!!!!!

I love it!!!!!

WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

[TheMajor]

loving it.

[Steve]

In the immortal words of Howard Dean:

BYAH!!!!!

[Chris]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Yes, I'm psyched that they clinched the East, but I'll be even more psyched if they can actually win a postseason game this year.

GO PHILS!!!

[Matt P]

Where's Jade McCarthy?

[PhiPhan5648]

BWAHAHAHAHA! Anyone else see the postgame coverage on FOX, and the dude wearing the "Dallas Sucks, and Romo's a Homo" shirt? They took him off camera quickly, that was awesome!

[ill]

Great season! Great win! Made Beltran eat his words! It was fun going through it with you guys over at the700level. Now let's win a playoff game!

[Mike H.]

Sometimes it just takes one play to make up a whole season.

Pedro Feliz, the letdown of the offense, has the game winning RBI in the clinching game.

Jimmy Rollins, a letdown of a season after his MVP year, has what might be the most spectacular defensive play in Phillies history, second to Rose catching the foul ball pop up in Game 6, 1980.

You just never know.

CONGRATULATIONS, NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!

[Mamula Blues]

Amazing win. Feels so good to beat the Mets out for the division. Now lets win a playoff game!!!!!!!! Come through cole...

[webster]

fuckin a! Phils deserved it and they did it...lets not start to fall in love with ourselves yet, we still gotta do big things come October 9th

RIP Paul Newman

[JMS]

Whoooooooooo! I am going to enjoy every second of this until Wednesday night.

[bob barker]

can someone please either post or direct me somewhere where i can hear harry's call on the final double play.

[jimm]

how creepy was rudy seanez?

[Mike'M]

I'm Soooo Glad Palin Didn't Jinx Us! Go Phils! Back-to-Back!

[Joe]

Yea I really want that Kalas call. It's just not that same without it.

[David]

Who was yelling "YEAH YEAH!" in the background during the double play over the radio? Harry had such a terrific call and I really don't like it when the color guy yells over the PBP guy.

Funny story related to that actually...one of my friends was announcing the USC-Notre Dame football game a couple years back (the one with the "Bush Push") and it was that 4th and 9 play, when Leinart hit Jarrett for the long first down.

My friend Dan has a GREAT call: this is the kind of call that can get you a job. GREAT reel material. As he makes this call his color announcer, this dumb chick we knew, starts SCREAMING at the top of her lungs. Drowns out his call. Ruins the moment and the broadcast. He wanted to KILL her!

Having that other guy yelling over Harry reminded me of that.

Congrats to the 08 NL East Champs! We're not done yet baby!

[enrico]

Video added up top.

[jimm]

It was LA...he loves to scream over good calls, he did it to Scott Franzke a few weeks back too

[Stevek]

Why did FOX (Fuckers On X-stasy) have to jack this game in the first place anyway? I know Harry called it on radio, but LA was being a damn fool and yelling over it. Ugh. Whatever, our Fightins are NL EAST CHAMPS!

[Loqiel]

Oh my God I just got back from a doubleheader (I saw the Flyers in the Spectrum and then went to the Phillies game). I am emotionally EXHAUSTED. We did it, though! We did it! Oh my God. When they turned that double play I started crying like a little girl with a skinned knee, I was so happy.

Time to do something with this post-season!

[GM-Carson]

Phillies baby, love 'em!!!

[Benjamin]

WOOOOOOOOOO!!

That was for my boy Derrick Williams putting PSU up 21-14.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKKKK YEEEAAAHHH!!!

That was for the Phillies getting it done!!

No rest for me tonight...one thing to the next...I guess I didn't need to go to the gym this morning...my heart is weary

[enrico]

Here's the audio of Harry's call.

[MSM]

For those who requested:

Managed to find Harry (and LA's) call.

http://www.hammradio.com/video/PhilliesWinNLEast2008.mp3

[MSM]

Enrico beat me to it.

[Clare]

I cried from the first pitch of the ninth until about 10 minutes after I switched over to CSN's coverage.

[Stevek]

Now, someone put the audio into a video of the clinching play and post it.

[HLH]

Wow, that was an exciting win. I'm glad Lidge held on and didn't blow his perfect record. 1st place in the NL EAST again!!!! Now lets take it to any team that stands in our way. This team deserves a real championship! LETS GO PHILS!!!!!!!

[kevin]

i must say 1 thing...
BEAT LA! BEAT LA!

GO PHILLIES!!!
?GOT POSTSEASON?

[Benjamin]

enrico - I know you're extending love to Penn state with recaps of every PSU game, but how bout some live game threads for PSU now that we're in the big ten schedule and showing some serious skill?

[benjamin]

Just block the haters...you heard kirk..."serious national championship contenders"... And Illinois had 2 weeks to prepare.

[Loqiel]

I feel ya Clare, I was using my rally towel to wipe my face. I'm never washing it. It's attained Shroud of Turin status.

[will]

i just got in from the game/chickies. i bought two beers before the game. one was to drink, the other--top 9 beer bath.

Im only 25, but it was the 2nd best sporting event ive ever attended (#1 nfc championship jan2005).

Game 4 of the world series is on my birthday, i can feel the buzz already. Coast and Feliz riding the cop bikes around the outfield was priceless. too many emotions from tonights win.. fuck yeah phils, stick it to 'em in october.

[Benjamin]

I'll be there Wednesday...game 1...who cares who we play...we're going to win it.

[Win]

If the Mets don't get in, next time we play them just chant September.

[Saul]

Surprisingly, I found something worthwhile on SI.com - although it follows their pattern of not actually reporting sports but the rather the pop culture around it. Anyway... this is pretty funny.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/extramustard/09/25/wallstreet-mets-tale/index.html

[kgar02]

What a day in sports, i just got back from the white out game at the beav, Phillies clinch, Flyers win, what a great day. i think brett meyers said it best, "this is great, we did it one day faster this year, so you know we are getting better" that is probably his best quote ever

[HLH]

Ok now i'm alittle confused this morning....Should I buy the hat and t-shirt now??? Or should I wait for the world series gear to come out? ;) GO PHILS!!!

[jd]

i live in DC.

yesterday, i was able to catch the flyers, phills, and psu all in one day.

truly a great day.

not to be a downer, but until the lions can bet michingan anywhere, or osu on the road, will i consider them to be a legitamate contender.

[Stevek]

Video of clinch with Harry's voice over it. And LA screaming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9cpgLM-Hhk