NLCS Game 6 Preview

“When we get there, let them have it, Let. Them. Have. It…All of them…for real.”  -Jimmy Rollins after Game 5 of the NLCS

Phillies fans will get their opportunity to let the Giants have it Saturday night as the National League Championship Series returns to Citizen’s Bank Park for Game 6.  After a critical 4-2 victory in Game 5 to keep their season alive, Philadelphia will return home trailing the series three games to two.  The task at hand is still daunting but the Phillies will have a chance to even up the series with Roy Oswalt making his 3rd appearance of the NLCS against lefty Jonathan Sanchez.

“Going back to Philly in two do-or-die games kind of puts it in our favor,” said Phillies closer Brad Lidge. “We have some momentum now and we like our chances.”

The Phillies have to like their chances with Oswalt on the mound.  He has never lost a game at Citizen’s Bank Park compiling a 10-0 record as a member of the Houston Astros and Phils.

“I think the excitement of the crowd and adrenalin gets you going a little bit at home more than it does on the road,” Oswalt said.

However there will be question marks surrounding Oswalt as he takes the mound in Game 6.  After pitching a brilliant 8 innings of 1 run ball in Game 2, Oswalt threw 18 pitches in relief in Game 4 in addition to his 40-pitch bullpen session from earlier in the day.  How will the extra work affect his routine?

“Roy’s one of those guys that when he tells you he’s ready, he’s ready,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “He’s got a rubber arm.”

“You never know when you’re going to get back here,” Oswalt added.  “So that’s one of the reasons I wanted to be in the game the other night. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to play. [I] may not get to this spot again. So I’m going to try to do everything possible to get to that final game.”

“I try to pitch every game like it’s the last one.  You’re never guaranteed the next day. So it’s going to be no different. I’ll try to attack hitters and make them beat me. I’ll try not to put guys on base. No different than any other game. It’s a must-win game, but I treat every one of them like a must-win.”

Oswalt will be opposed by San Francisco left hander Jonathan Sanchez.  Sanchez has developed a knack for pitching in big games, as he was victorious on the final day of the season to clinch the NL West for the Giants.  The 27-year old hurler has had tremendous success against the Phillies lineup over the past two seasons and is confident he can lead the Giants to their first World Series appearance since 2002.

“It’s going to be great to get to the World Series,” Sanchez said. “Never been there. We’ve got a lot of guys on the team that have never been there, and to be able to do that, it’s going to be something special for me.”

The Phillies will need to have a similar approach to their Game 2 performance against Sanchez.  They need to be patient and hope Sanchez struggles to find the strike zone.  If he is able to get ahead of hitters and throw strike 1 it will another tough night for the offense.  The Philadelphia crowd should be electric and it will be interesting to see how an emotional pitcher like Sanchez responds on the mound.

As the Phillies look to extend their season for at least another game, manager Charlie Manuel is optimistic his team will respond with a strong performance.

“You can sit there and you can cry and you can whine, you can drop your head and you can quit,” said Manuel.  “There’s nothing you can do about what you did yesterday. But you can do something about it today.”

The Phillies will have to do something about it today if they want to keep their hopes of a third consecutive World Series appearance alive.  Citizen’s Bank Park will be electric as the Phillies look to even up the series and force a decisive Game 7.

Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez with the season on the line.  First pitch 7:57pm EST on Fox.