Phillies are 2008 World Series Champs

The Philadelphia Phillies claimed the 2008 World Series title on Wednesday night, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in game five of the best of seven series. The win marks the first time in twenty-five years the city of Philadelphia will get to celebrate a Championship.

Game 5 was about as bizzar a game as you would see. Originally scheduled to take place on Monday, they were only able to get 5 1/2 innings in before having to suspend play due to heavy rain with the score tied 2-2. Field conditions prohibited the two teams from playing the final three innings on Tuesday. Finally on Wednesday mother nature cooperated, allowing for the game to be completed.

A Jason Werth RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, the first inning on play Wednesday, gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead. Rocco Baldelli answered in the seventh for the Rays evening the score at 3-3, but that would not last as in the bottom of the same inning a Pat Burrell double followed by a Pedro Feliz single gave the Phillies the final run they would need.

Phillies' closer Brad Lidge picked up the final two outs of the game, including a strikeout of Eric Hinske to end it. Lidge finished the year a perfect 48 for 48 in save situations, unheard of for closers in today's game.

Following the game Phillies' pitcher Cole Hamels was named World Series MVP. He started games 1 and 5 of the series, both games that Philly went on to win. He finished the playoffs 4-0 with a 1.88ERA in five starts. Not too shabby for a guy who is only 24 years old and just getting into the prime of his career.

"I think when we come back, when we’re all old and retired and we come back and they still stand up and give us a standing ovation, just like they did to all the guys of the 1980 World Series," Hamels said. "We’ve got to witness that, and knowing that and seeing the city and the excitement throughout the first game of the season this year, throughout the multiple sellouts and of course the playoff excitement was just really huge. I really think the fans stepped up. They could taste it just as much as we could. And they added to our confidence to go out there and win."

Congratulationsto the Philadelphia Phillies: 2008 World Series Champions.