Pat Burrell gets it done

Led by venerable Pat Burrell, the Phillies bats stirred a bit today to beat the Brewers 6-2 and advance to the National League Championship Series against Manny, Joe Torre, Larry Bowa and the Dodgers. We'll be at Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 7.

After getting overly excited before Game 3's loss, Christine and I are pretty mellow for the Phillies first playoff series clincher since 1993. It probably hasn't sunk in yet.

There was some anxiety before the game. We missed the first third of it because of an outdoor charitable function. Though friends' cell phones, we knew it was 1-0 on Jimmy Rollins' leadoff home run. When we got into the car, we just missed Burrell's three-run homer, which put them up 4-0. Jayson Werth then hit a solo home run. We felt like honking our horn, but that probably would have been rude to the kids playing soccer in the park we were leaving.

There were two stars today: Burrell, who added an insurance run with a solo blast in the 7th, and Joe Blanton, who gave up one run on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. Brad Lidge closed it out with a remarkably calm 16-pitch inning - one hit, one strikeout.

So while we prepare for Josh Beckett's attempt to sweep away the Angels tonight, our attention also turns to the other looming team from California.

If this is the year of the SoxandPhils World Series, there's probably no better opponent for the Phils than the Dodgers. There are so many angles - former Yankee manager Joe Torre, former Phils manager Larry Bowa, and former Red Sox Derek Lowe, Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra. Remember all the much speculation about a Manny trade to Philly involving today's man-of-the-hour Pat Burrell? I wonder how differently this season would have turned out if that trade were made. As Christine noted, all of Red Sox nation should be rooting for the Phils to knock Manny out of the playoffs, although I'm sure some would love to beat him in the World Series.

Assuming the Phillies keep their rotation in order, we'll finally see Brett Myers in Citizens Bank Park this year for Friday's Game 2. I'm torn about wanting to see a Game 7 - it would be such a rush, but I know Christine would be a wreck and my hand would be bloodied from fingernails digging into it for nine tortuous innings.

Well, I have some time to mull that all over. Meantime, congrats to the Phils and let's go Sox - get our second clincher of the day.

[Photo credits: Associated Press]