The clincher

I like the Phillies chances to wrap it up tomorrow in Milwaukee - solely because of the old man on the mound.

Jamie Moyer won't let them lose this game. Last year he looked possessed, willing them to win the last game of the season when anything less would have meant a one-game playoff against the Mets, or worse. This year, under less stressful circumstances, he pitched the division-clinching game.

A little playoff history on J-Moy ... he'll be making his sixth postseason appearance tomorrow, all of which came after he was 34 years old. He's 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. His WHIP is 0.94. He's always smart and tough on the mound, but he takes himself to another level for big games. In last year's Game 3 against the Rockies, he took a no decision in the Phillies final game, yielding one run in six innings.

I expect he will pitch the Phillies last first-round game this year as well.

Before we get to the Phillies Game 3, the Red Sox have to win Game 2 tonight: Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Ervin Santana.

I can't get a good feel on this one. I'm feeling a strong start by Dice-K, but I also sense people have written off the Angels after one game. I'm not, but I lean toward saying the Sox will pull this one out somehow. If so, then I'll write off the Angels.

Even Mike Scioscia agrees:

We need to win tonight, there is no mistake. They're a terrific ball club and we're a terrific ball club. The bottom line is to bring it on the field and it's a shame if we don't bring it because if you bring it on the field and another team beats you, then it's easy to turn the page and say, hey, congratulations.

Red Sox updates: Mike Lowell, who gritted out Game 1 with his bum hip, will be forced to watch Game 2. Jed Lowrie gets the night off - Terry Francona has a hunch with Alex Cora. And Josh Beckett is pitching Game 3 at Fenway. Did I mention tonight is a must-win for the Halos?

The game is starting now. We'll catch up tomorrow.

Dinnertime: While waiting for our order at Chick-fil-A, we heard one of the workers telling the others that Stephen A. Smith was in for lunch.

"I told him I was a big fan and gave him a bunch of coupons," he said.

One co-worker was incredulous.

"No, really," the Stephen A. fan said. "NFL Films is right across the street."