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Oct 5, 2009 6:28 am US/Eastern
Phillies Avoid Sweep, Beat Marlins 7-6
PHILADELPHIA (CBS4) ―
Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley got to rest. Up ahead, they get to defend.The Philadelphia regulars watched as Paul Hoover hit a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning, and the defending World Series champion Phillies prepared for their title defense with a 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins on Sunday.
"This is when it starts," Rollins said. "You have to get to the postseason to have that opportunity."
The Phillies (93-69) will open the best-of-five division series at home Wednesday against Colorado. The Rockies swept the Phillies in the 2007 division series en route to the World Series.
"They beat us three games. That's what I remember," Rollins said. "Oh well. We're well beyond that."
They used that disappointment as motivation last season when they won their first World Series since 1980. Cole Hamels was the NLCS and World Series MVP, and may get the call to start Game 1 vs. Colorado. Manager Charlie Manuel could also go with Cliff Lee, who went 7-4 after he was acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline.
"They know what it takes to win and they do things the right way," Lee
said. "You can see it in the game, and I can see it in between off the field. It's a good thing to be a part of."
The Game 1 starter isn't Manuel's only pressing question. He has to decide between Ryan Madson or Brad Lidge as his closer, and if he wants to use rookie left-hander J.A. Happ as a starter or out of bullpen.
"I'm not ready to reveal what we're going to do yet because I'm not sure what we're going to do," Manuel said.
Happ, a 12-game winner, pitched only two innings in his 23rd start of the year. The left-handed rookie, who struck out 10, tossed a shutout against the Rockies in July but also has had success out of the bullpen.
"Hopefully when they know, I'll know," he said. "I think we all read a little bit into it. I think I'm going to be available when needed. I don't know what that means."
Just one RBI shy of 100, right fielder Jayson Werth started and went 1 for 4, missing out on the milestone. Werth was intentionally walked with the winning run on second in the 10th inning.
Hanley Ramirez got the day off and finished with a .342 average to become the first Marlins player to win a batting title. He also is the first NL shortstop to win the batting title since Dick Groat in 1960.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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