PHILADELPHIA -- It had all the makings for a great day for Philly sports, but unfortunately the Phillies couldn't finish it off. After the Eagles took care of the Giants, the atmosphere in the city was exciting; it was the best place to spend my Sunday. The parking lots were packed with tailgaters hoping the defending world champs could tie up the series at 2-2. All they needed was one more out from Lidge and one more run in the 9th, but it didn't happen that way.
The crowd was hyped up from the first pitch. A-Rod was bombarded with the steroids chants, and Sabathia hadn't even thrown a pitch yet when the "CC" chants started. But unlike last postseason, the Phillies lineup struggled against him.
The crowd stayed loud, going crazy when Ryan Howard stole second, but the Phillies weren't giving fans any reason to stay in the game. The lone New York fan in my section kept quiet, but the group of Yankees fans in left field made their presence known.
It was obvious the Phillies fans were fading when Joe Fraizer helping the Phanatic box a New Yorker in between innings couldn't even muster up too many cheers. But Pedro Feliz was able to get the spirits up with his solo shot...right before Brad Lidge brought them back down.
That feeling that the Fightins could pull off more late inning magic disappeared with A-Rod's swing. It was a quiet group of fans leaving the ballpark, except for a few bragging Yankees fans talking about how Jimmy Rollins' prediction about winning in five games was directed towards the wrong team. It was the first time I didn't hear Philly fans fight back.
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