Brad Lidge is once again lights out as the Phillies survive the Rays 3-2 in game one

SCOTT JACOBS

The Rays may be the comeback kids, but Brad Lidge is a totally different animal.

Lidge came out in the ninth, completely shut down Tampa Bay’s potent offense, and the Phillies walked out of game one with a road win, and a one to nothing series lead. That’s fifty saves in a row for Lidge, who was the acquisition of the offseason for the Phillies, who rolled the dice on a man people thought might be done.

Unless done means the opposition’s chances when Lidge takes the mound with a save on the line.

This was what the Houston Chronicle wrote when Lidge was traded last November:

“Lidge was an All-Star in 2005 and one of the most feared closers in baseball, but many say he has not been the same since he gave up a three-run homer to the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols in Game 5 of that year’s NLCS. The Astros were one out from reaching the World Series for the first time and didn’t clinch the pennant until winning Game 6 in St. Louis.”

It’s safe to say that Lidge looks just fine.

In the meantime, the Phils prevailed in one run fashion. The last time they did that in game one of the World Series: 1980. Also, the last time they won the World Series. The only time actually.

I thought the Rays would come roaring out of the gates, but I suppose that a letdown was also quite possible, considering the nail biting nature they won over Boston. Remember, they lost game one at home to the Red Sox too, so this team has shown they can come back. I highly doubt they’ll run off three in a row this time, but crazier things have happened.

Cole Hamels improved to 4-0 this post-season with another terrific start, and he is growing into a top of the line pitcher right before our eyes. Don’t get me wrong: his stuff was pretty filthy before, but he’s taken major leaps this post-season to becoming the pitcher that you want on the mound in your team’s biggest game.

So the Phillies, who’ve claimed one World Series in a tidy 125 years, are one win closer to making it two. The city of Philadelphia is starving for a championship, having failed to win a pro title in the big four sports in 25 years. Is this the year the Curse of William Penn ends?

Philadelphians certainly hope so.

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