The Phillies scored a run in the bottom of the 9^th to win their 3^rd fall championship in 4 years. Barrett Gugliotta was the hero, scoring Hall of Famer Vanessa West with a two-out base hit, after the venerable George Kerst was walked intentionally to load the bases. West reached on a Hit By Pitch with one out, advanced on a walk to Comeback Player of the Year Billy Kiernan, moved to third on a wild pitch and after the Kerst IBB, the stage was set for Gugliotta heroics. The Reds had tied the game with two runs in the top of the 9^th on a Jeremiah Jaspon double, a Hall of Famer Felix Soto Toro double, and an infield hit by the newest HOF member Eddie Rubiera. The Reds would have had a first and third to go ahead, but Adam Greschler was cut down at third by center fielder Adam Cadiz after an Anthony Kazmerczyk single. A great game, as were so many this fall playoff season. Warren Hanson and Scott Budds pitched admirably for the Phillies, as did Craig Feeney and Ricardo Rodriguez for the Reds.

That’s the party line for league consumption, for the Reds, I just couldn’t be more proud of you guys. What character this team has! Two guys who missed the majority of the games in Jeremiah Jaspon and Felix Soto came up huge in the 9^th, and when the baseball gods momentarily smiled on us on Eddie’s squibber, I thought we just might have this. Then Kaz drills another single, and Adam correctly tries to take the extra base, but gets cut down on a beauty of a throw from the center fielder.

Just a great game, and I hope every one of you comes back. It still hurts a bit, no doubt about it, but it gives us great hope going forward. More than anything else, you’re a great bunch of guys to spend time with each week, and it makes it that much better when we are competitive and winning ballgames. I sincerely hope all of you have a restful and prosperous holiday season, and I look forward to bugging you about the national pastime shortly after the New Year.