2008 World Series

The 2008 World Series was the 104th edition of the finals in the North American ( U.S. and Canada) Major League Baseball. The best- of-seven series started on 22 October 2008 and ended on 29 October 2008. There stood the champion of the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the champion of the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, opposite. The Phillies won the series 4-1 games. For the World Series MVP Cole Hamels was selected.

• 4.1 Overview of the channels with live coverage
• 4.2 Highlights

The finalists

Founded in 1998, Tampa Bay Rays were for the first time ever in their history after the regular season on a positive note at the top of the East Division of the American League and qualified for the postseason so. They were able to secure the championship of the American League after a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS (American League Division Series) and in a duel with the Boston Red Sox. In the ALCS (American League Championship Series ) they had in the best- of-seven series with a 3-1 lead, had against the Boston Red Sox, who acquired the reputation of almost unbeatable ALCS team in recent years but suffered two defeats in a row. In the decisive seventh game they beat the Red Sox 3-1. The Rays were able to reach the World Series, even though they were the team that mustered the second least amount of money on player salaries. Only the Florida Marlins invested less in their team.

For the Phillies, it was the first participation in the Fall Classic since the World Series in 1993. They attacked with it for the sixth time in its history after the supreme title in professional baseball, they could win in 1980 for the first and so far only time. The Phillies were able to until the penultimate game of the regular season secure the title in the National League East. The Division of the National League Series ( NLDS ) against the Milwaukee Brewers, they won 3-1 games as safe as the title of the National League ( NLCS ) with only one defeat in the best- of-seven series against the LA Dodgers.

The road to the World Series

→ Main article: MLB 2008 season

ALDS, NLDS ( Division Series ): Best of Five; ALCS, NLCS (Championship Series): Best -of -Seven

Overview of the Games

Due to the victory of the American League during MLB All- Star Game 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays home field advantage in the World Series.

(PHI -TB)

* Game 5 was interrupted due to rain and continued two days later.

Game 1, October 22

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida

WP: Cole Hamels (1-0 ) LP: Scott Kazmir (0-1) SV: Brad Lidge ( 1) HRs: PHI - Chase Utley (1 ) TB - Carl Crawford ( 1)

Already in the first half- inning of the series, the Philadelphia Phillies were able to achieve the first two runs. Chase Utley hit a home run, while Jayson Werth was on the first base. In the second inning, the Phillies played hard. They managed to occupy all the bases, but ultimately did not place a Run. Something similar happened to the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning when they could also all the bases, occupy, without success later point. In the fourth inning, the Phillies were able to extend their lead after Vicrotino was able to score after a hit by Carlos Ruiz. Carl Crawford, however, could approach get back on 2 runs to the Phillies Tampa Bay by a home run in the bottom half of the fourth inning. In the following inning, the Rays shortened even to 2:3 after Jason Bartlett was able to score after a double by Akinori Iwamura.

After six innings left Tampa Bay starting pitcher Scott Kazmir the field and was only replaced by JP Howell and Grant Balfour later, both of which did not permit Run the Phillies more. The fourth Rays pitcher of the game, Trever Miller, remained without Earned Run, as well as the fifth pitcher Dan Wheeler.

The Phillies Ryan Madson came in the eighth inning for starter Cole Hamels. Madson in turn was replaced by Brad Lidge in the ninth inning. Lidge made ​​it also no longer allow Run the opponent, making the secured the save.

Game 2, October 23

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg

WP: James Shields (1-0 ) LP: Brett Myers ( 0-1) HRs: PHI - Eric Bruntlett ( 1)

Tampa Bay scored the first runs of the game in the first inning. In the second inning for the visitors go through a run of Dioner Navarro even with a 3-0 lead. Cliff Floyd was able to increase the projection of the Rays in the fourth inning on four runs.

James Shields pitched 5 ⅔ innings without Earned Run, before he was replaced by Dan Wheeler, who also did not permit an inning long run the Phillies. In the eighth inning, Eric Bruntlett hit a homer for the Phillies and was thus reduced to 1:4. The guest from Philadelphia came in the last inning still to a second run, but what about the victory of the Rays, and thus the balance in the series could not prevent.

Game 3, October 25,

Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia

WP: JC Romero (1-0 ) LP: JP Howell (0-1) HRs: PHI - Carlos Ruiz ( 1) Chase Utley ( 2), Ryan Howard ( 1)

Game 3 of the series started due to rain with 91 -minute Verspätung.Die Phillies could go in the first inning by one run of Jimmy Rollins 1-0 lead. Tampa Bay, however, was offset by a run of Carl Crawford already the next half- inning. Carlos Ruiz in turn brought the Phillies by a home run in the second inning right back in front. Starting pitcher Matt Garza pitched six, his opponent Jamie Moyer 6 ⅓ innings.

The score did not change until the sixth inning when the Phillies could increase by consecutive homers by Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to 4-1. It was only the 14th time in the history of the World Series that have succeeded. Crawford was then recorded his second run of the day. In the same inning, Dioner Navarro managed to do it, the residue is reduced to one run.

In the eighth inning succeeded B. J. Upton after a single, only the second and later to steal third base and eventually after a Error Phillies equalize the game.

In the ninth inning, Eric Bruntlett came after a hit by pitch to first base. He then reached by a wild pitch and the second by an Error third base. Tampa Bay then left Philadelphia by two Intentional Walks occupy all the bases. Bruntlett could still achieve ultimately the decisive fifth run for the Phillies after an infield single by Ruiz. This first walkoff infield single World Series history, the Phillies went into the series with a 2-1 lead.

Game 4, October 26th

Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia

WP: Joe Blanton (1-0 ) LP: Andy Sonnanstine (0-1) HRs: TB - Carl Crawford (2 ), Eric Hinske ( 1) PHI - Ryan Howard ( 3), Joe Blanton ( 1), Jayson Werth ( 1)

The Phillies went again in the first inning of a 1-0 run by Jimmy Rollins lead. In the third inning, the team from Philadelphia could increase to 2-0 when Pedro Feliz with a single Chase Utley helped to run, which in turn was come by a fielding error on base. The Rays came briefly one back when Carl Crawford was able to cut with his second home run of the series to 1:2 in the fourth inning. But the Phillies were able to increase in the same inning thanks to a three-run homers from Ryan Howard to 5:1. Eric Hinske shortened for the Rays in the fifth inning to 2:5 before in the same inning again the Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton could by her who hit a home run to score. It was the first home run of a pitcher in the World Series since 1974. Through a home run by Jayson Werth, the Phillies increased in the eighth inning to 8:2. In the same inning Ryan Howard scored his second home run of the day, and was able to produce the final score of 10:2.

Game 5, October 27 ( started) and 29 October ( completed )

Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia

Starting Pitchers: TB - Scott Kazmir (0-1) PHI - Cole Hamels (1-0 ) WP: JC Romero (2-0 ) LP: JP Howell (0-2) SV: Brad Lidge ( 2) HRs: TB - Rocco Baldelli ( 1)

For the third time in a row, the Phillies have scored in the first inning, after Jayson Werth and Pat Burrell each scored a run. In the fourth inning, the Rays shortened to 1:2. In the sixth inning, BJ Upton could make up the game. In the middle of the sixth inning, the game had to be interrupted due to rain and also could not be started that night. It is the first time in history that a game was not finished in one piece or a draw.

Two days later, on 29 October, the game could continue. Again it was possible to score the Phillies at the beginning. Pinch Hitter Geoff Jenkins managed the lead again before the Rays in the seventh inning again managed by a home run by Rocco Baldelli compensation. The decisive run of the day, and therefore the decision in the World Series, Eric Bruntlett succeeded in the seventh inning, which came as a pinch runner for Pat Burrell into the game by a single by Pedro Feliz scored the fourth run for the Phillies.

Summary

2008 World Series Philadelphia Phillies (NL ) ( 4-1 ) Tampa Bay Rays (AL)

Reporting

• In the U.S., FOX had again the broadcasting rights for the World Series 2008. In Europe, the games live from the NASN has been transferred.

An overview of channels with live coverage

• Australia: Australia FOX and ESPN Australia
• Canada Canada: Rogers Sportsnet
• Dominican Republic Dominican Republic and Costa Rica Costa Rica: ESPN Latin America
• Europe: NASN
• Mexico Mexico: Televisa
• China Republic of China Republic: ESPN Star Sports and Formosa TV
• United Kingdom United Kingdom: Five
• United States United States: Major League Baseball on FOX

Highlights

• MLB.com offers after the games to a free summary of the games on the internet.