Game 1:
The underdog Phillipians began the series with 2 runs off Blow Monkey ace Brandon Webb in the first. A single by J.D. Drew, a walk to Adam Dunn and then consecutive doubles by Matt Stairs and Casey Kotchman put up two runs for the Philipians. That was followed in the 2nd by a 1 out single by Miguel Montero, a pop out by Darin Erstad, and then 4 consecutive singles and a double by Casey Kotchman to chase Webb after 7 runs and 1 2/3 innings. The Blow Monkeys came back back strong with 2 in the 3rd and a 3 run six highlighted by a griffey 2-run single, but the P'burg pen did not allow a hit the rest of the way as Jeremy Accardo closed it out for the 8-6 P'burg victory.

Game 2:
C.C. Sabathia and Curt Schilling both pitched well but Sabathia and P'burg took a 3-1 lead into the bottome of the 8th. A HR by Teixera cut the lead to 1 but a walk to Arod and a single by Chipper Jones put two runners on for PH Joey Votto. Broxton promptly gave a game tying single to Votto that scored Arod but Chipper was pegged trying to score to leave the game tied at 3.
After a scoreless 9th, Matt Stairs hit a 2-run HR off of LH specialist Jamie Walker, which was then followed up by a solo shot by Mark Ellis for a commanding 3-run lead. After a ground out, the murderer's row that is the heart of Brooklyn lineup(Teixera, Arod Chipper, Manny) all got hits off of Accardo to tie the score at 6, but ryan Doumit and Jose Reyes failed to deliver the game winning hit with 2 runners left stranded. After 3 scoreless innings, PH Justin Upton took Ubaldo Jimenez deep for the 7-6 P'burg lead. No problem, though, as Brooklyn had Teixera, Arod, and Manny due up against the very unstudly Luis Ayala. But, in a miracle akin to Bobby Thomson "shot heard round the world" Ayala retired Murderer's Row 1,2,3 for the astonsihing P'burg sweep on the road. Of course,this had a felling of Deja Vue for the P'burg fans, who watched last year as P'burg miraculously swept Surprise on the road only to meekly drop the next four to Surprise.

Game 3:
Greg Maddux opened for the Phillipians at home versus Brandon Webb. Greg Maddux, pitched decently but a 5 run 7th inning (capped off by a 5 for 5 Manny night) had the Blow Monkeys with a commanding 8-4 lead, with Ace Webb on the mound. After getting the first two outs easily, P'burg proved that fate was not to be denied by putting together 4 hits, a hit batter and an error on a frustrated Jared Burton to take a miraculous 9-8 lead. Jonathon Broxton then came on and gave up two singles to Manny and Chipper after getting the first out with Arod coming up with 2 on. Arod swung htrough a slider for strike three as Esteban German did as well to put down the last Blow Monkey rally. A perfect 9th sealed it for Broxton and P'burg for a 10-8 win and the 3-0 lead.

Game 4:
Brooklyn was ready for revenge as they jumped off to a 5-0 lead off of Roy Oswalt and P'burg, keyed by a bases-loaded double by Ian Kinsler, after 2 1/2 innings. P'burg, however was not to be denied. A 2-run Hr by Eric Chavez made it 5-4 after 4 innings. In the 6th a double by Matt Stairs and a single by Kotchman put 2 on for Mark Derosa. The Brooklyn manager decided to stick with his starter Jimenez, who is tough on righties, to pitch to Mark DeRosa, who came through witha 3-Run HR for the P'burg lead which they added onto to make it 8-5 going into the 9th. After 1 out, P'burg went to its closer Accardo who promptly gave up a HR to Griffey Jr., to close the margin to 8-6. But, that was the end for Brooklyn , as Accardo got the last two outs for the finishing touch on a near miraculous 4-0 sweep of Brooklyn.

Congratulations to Jon on a 115 win season. He is also to be commended for being such a good sport after a disappointing showing in the playoffs (something that I consider myself an expert in). However, after years of playoff frustration, I had to play over my head sooner or later in the playoffs. Of course, I'll probably get shut out the next four games.....