Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Dave Roberts Moment
If the Phillies go on to win the pennant- which remains a tall task- mark this down as the play that changed the series, much like Dave Roberts' stolen base did during Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS.
When Roy Halladay dropped down a bunt in the third inning, catcher Buster Posey tried to get cute by picking up the ball (that was clearly foul) and throwing to third base for what should have been an easy force out. Instead, the overweight Pablo Sandoval couldn't get back to the base in time and missed stepping on the bag. By the time he did, Raul Ibanez was already standing on it. Sandoval, to his credit, immediately threw to first to get Halladay, who, as we now know, wasn't running because of a pulled groin. They got the out, but the play rattled Tim Lincecum and Giants for just a few minutes. Long enough for the Phillies to strike.
Shane Victorino was the next batter and smoked a foul ball before hitting a liner off of Aubrey Huff's knee, which allowed Ibanez and Ruiz to score. 2-1 Phillies. Placido Polanco then singled in Victorino. 3-1 Phillies and they never looked back.
It was at that moment you could feel the momentum swing ever so slightly.
For those who don't remember, during the 2004 ALCS, Roberts stole second base for the Red Sox in the 9th inning of Game 4. At the time, the Red Sox trailed the series 3-0 and the game, 4-3. Roberts' baserunning distracted Mariano Rivera for just a few moments, but long enough for Bill Mueller to hit a game tying single. The Red Sox went on to win Game 4 and the series and the World Series. The play that most fans and writers acknowledge as the turning point of the series was that stolen base in Game 4. It was a small battle that ultimately won the war.
Let it be known, that if Buster Posey didn't try to outsmart the umpire or Pablo Sandoval wasn't fat, the sacrifice may have never been successful. Ibanez could have been out at third. The Phillies would have never taken a two run lead in the third inning. Jayson Werth may have never homered off of Ramon Ramirez in the ninth inning (Brian Wilson would have pitched in a tie). And the Phillies may never have won the game, and potentially, the series.
Moment by moment screen caps after the jump.
Nope
Roberts'd
