As the year comes to a close it’s time to look back at some of the top moments from the Philadelphia Phillies 2010 season. While the team came short of their ultimate goal of winning a World Series championship, there were still several great memories from the past year. It’s time to look back on the top moments of 2010 leading up to the number one memory which will be unveiled on New Years Eve.
#14 The Clincher: It’s only gonna get Funner! – September 27th
It is the golden era of Philadelphia Phillies baseball.
For the fourth consecutive season the National League Eastern Division Championship resides in the City of Brotherly Love.
A dominant performance led to what became a foregone conclusion on a Monday night in late September as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 8-0 to clinch the NL East division title.
The Phillies celebrated their 4th straight NL East crown
The night was set up perfectly. Roy Halladay, the ace that took less money to come to Philadelphia for a chance to win, took the hill for the Phillies. He was dominant allowing no runs on just two hits in a complete game masterpiece.
“I wanted him out there,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of letting Halladay go the distance. “I felt like he earned it, and he deserved it.”
Halladay had accomplished a tremendous amount throughout his career. He had won a Cy Young award. He had started an All-Star game. He was widely considered one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past decade.
But he had never pitched in the playoffs. He had never been in a division race. He had never experienced the allure of October baseball.
Until now.
“That’s the reason you want to come to a team like this,” Halladay said in a champagne soaked Phillies clubhouse. “It’s the coolest thing I’ve been a part of. It’s just the start, I think.”
Champagne flowed in the Phillies victorious clubhouse
“It was fun, but it’s only going to get funner,” added Halladay. “Honestly, it didn’t matter who finished it as long as we got it done.”
Right fielder Jayson Werth crushed a solo home run in the second inning to give the Phillies the lead. Werth added an RBI double in the 6th inning and a Carlos Ruiz double stretched Philadelphia’s lead to 4-0.
Halladay needed no more.
“I think you obviously know, but you don’t put a different emphasis on the game,” Halladay said after his 21st win of the season. “You go out and try to pitch your game. I’ve watched it too much from this side (pointing to a television monitor), so I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
With the victory the Phillies also clinched the best record in the National League and home field advantage throughout the postseason. It was the first time Philadelphia finished with the best record in the National League since the 1977 season.
Phillies fans at "CBP South" celebrated a 4th straight division title
“For years to win the division, you had to go through Atlanta,” said Nationals manager Jim Riggleman. “Now you’ve got to go through Philadelphia.”
“This is what you play for,” said Phillies 1st baseman Ryan Howard. “This is why you’re here. If you’re not here to try to win a championship, you’re here for the wrong reasons. We’ve been through so much this yar. We’ve had so many injuries and been able to battle through it. We feel like we kind of have some unfinished business and have taken the first step.”
“Now we can put this behind us after we celebrate this tonight,” added Werth. “We’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got a long road. We know where we want to be.”
At 9:43pm EST Halladay clinched the division with a strikeout of Danny Espinosa. The 2010 National League Cy Young award winner punched his glove and let out a huge smile as his teammates mobbed him around the pitching diamond. Thousands of Phillies fans made the trip down to Washington to Nationals Park and erupted into a loud “Let’s Go Phillies” chant.
Halladay, Sweeney, and Schneider reached the postseason for the first time in their long careers
As the division champs left the field to head inside for their clubhouse celebration, Ryan Howard made his teammates wait for one more moment. The first champagne bottles needed to be cracked open by the three members of the team that had never experienced postseason play – Halladay, backup catcher Brian Schneider, and bench player Mike Sweeney.
Halladay streak of years without reaching the postseason was tied for the fourth longest streak among active players. Sweeney’s drought led the list as he finally reached the playoffs in his 16th major league season.
“The last time I popped anything was apple cider when we won a championship in high school,” said Sweeney as closer Brad Lidge attacked him with champagne. “It really does burn!”
The first step had been accomplished on the Phillies quest to become the first National League team in 66 years to win three consecutive pennants. While they would come up short of their ultimate goal, there was still plenty to celebrate on this particular night. After a summer filled with injuries and adversity, the Phillies had battle back and reigned as champions of the National League East once again.
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