Brad Lidge was at the center of the celebrations, mobbed on the mound and then later bathed in bone-chilling ice water inside the clubhouse.
Those recent ninth-inning meltdowns? A fading memory for the Phillies closer.
Lidge was struggling badly going into the NL division series against the Rockies, blowing a league-high 11 save chances during the regular season.
Four big outs, two saves and zero runs later, the Phillies just might have their dominant closer back. And the timing couldn’t be better.
Lidge struck out Troy Tulo-witzki to end Game 4 on Monday night, sending the defending World Series champions to the NL Championship Series.
The Phillies play Thursday night against Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium in an NLCS rematch from last year.
These are looking more and more like the Phillies that beat the Rays in five games during last season’s World Series.
The Phillies spared no bubbly Monday, dousing everyone within spraying distance. First baseman Ryan Howard caught the brunt of it, even getting some of the suds in his eye.
“I’m tasting the pain of success,” Howard said, grinning.
First, though, the Phillies had to experience the sting of disappointment. A talented Phillies team was swept out of the playoffs by the streaking Rockies in 2007, leaving a bitter feeling. That fueled the Phillies’ postseason run last season, and they’re picking up steam again in 2009.
“That kind of told us that we weren’t quite ready,” manager Charlie Manuel said of the series loss in ’07. “That we had to improve mentally and physically.”
The Phillies have done just that. But the celebration Monday was short-lived. The Phillies shifted their attention to the Dodgers, a team they went 3-4 against this season.
“We know we have a long ways to go. So this is the last party,” Jimmy Rollins said. “We know that it’s going to be a great series and one of those hectic battles — just like this one.”
Meanwhile, Joe Torre said he doesn’t plan to manage the Dodgers after his contract expires.
“I have one year on my contract, and I don’t anticipate it being more than that,” he said before adding: “I’ve said that before, and my wife doesn’t believe me at all.”
NLCS
Best-of-seven; all times MDT
DODGERS VS. PHILLIES
Thursday: Philadelphia at Los Angeles, 6:07 p.m.
Friday: at L.A., 2:37 p.m.
Sunday: at Phil., 6:07 p.m.
Monday: at Philadelphia
*Wed., Oct. 21: at Phil.
*Friday, Oct. 23: at L.A.
*Saturday, Oct. 24: at L.A.
* if necessary
