Stairs Steps Up

Once again, the Phillies found heroism in an unlikely source. Matt Stairs ripped a huge two out homer in the 8th to put the Phils ahead for good in their 7-5 win over the Dodgers last night in Game 4 of the NLCS. The win gives the Phils a commanding 3 games to 1 lead in the series.

Stairs' homerun will definitely find a spot in the highlight reel of big time Phillies playoff moments. Not only did it win the game and putthe Phils on the doorstep of their first World Series in 15 years, but the blast was also quite the moonshot. Stairs gave a free clinic on how to throughly crush a baseball. Take a look for yourself.



Perhaps even more amazing, Charlie Manuel had the foresight to hold Stairs' big bat for that situation. Earlier in the game, Charlie bypassed Stairs and opted for Geoff Jenkins instead in the hopes he could use Stairs against the hard thrower, Broxton. Add this move to Charlie's scary knack for putting Victorino and Werth in the right spot at the right time and suddenly we find Charlie Manual managing like he invented the game. He even knew the right time to use Lidge for four outs. Maybe, we should give Charlie some credit after all.

Of course Matt Stairs isn't the whole story of last night's game. Shane Victorino also hit a huge homerun in the 8th to tie the game at 5. Shane has put together a tremendous post-season so far. He's turned in two of the biggest clutch hits in the Phils post-season run - the grand slam off of Sabathia in Game 2 of the NLDS and of course last night's two run homer to tie up the game and bring the Phillies back from the dead. The entire league should take notice of Shane Victorino.

The Phillies are now in the driver's seat. They have their best chance to close out the series tomorrow night with Cole Hamels throwing. Hopefully, we will all celebrate a Phillies trip to the World Series. Wouldn't that be something?