Brad Lidge Retires As A Phillie as Former Team Looks For Win Over Giants

(Photo: @ToddZolecki)

He went 41 for 41 in save opportunities. He carried the success through the post season, securing 7 saves in as many opportunities for a total of 48-for-48. He did the unthinkable and the unimaginable. He did something that one man, Tug McGraw, did 28 years prior. Brad Lidge sealed the deal against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, giving the Phillies their second World Series title. The legend of Mr. Perfection will always live on even with the sour ending of his time in Philadelphia. Brad Lidge will retire as a Philadelphia Phillie tonight before the Phils take the field (hopefully the weather permits) against the Giants in the series finale.

Last night the Phillies were unable to keep the L out of the collumn as they fell to the Giants 9-2. Kyle Kendrick was lit up and the only two Phillie runs came from Chase Utley, who homered in the first inning and drove in a run later in the game. Looking to notch their 50th game of the year Cole Hamels (4-13, 4.09 ERA) will make the start against Matt Cain (6-6, 4.79 ERA).

Cole Hamels' nightmare of a season continued last time out. On Friday against Detroit, Hamels allowed just two earned runs on six hits through seven innings. Walking three and striking out two, his offense once again failed to support him as he took his 13th loss of the season. In his last three starts, Hamels has been dealt two losses despite posting a 3.60 ERA in that span. He will look to win his fifth game of the year as he takes on a struggling Giants' lineup and hope that his team can take advantage of a struggling Matt Cain. In his career (78 1/3 IP) against San Francisco, Hamels is 5-3 with a 4.14 ERA.

Matt Cain has had even a worse year than Cole Hamels has had this year. The right hander, who finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting last season as well as throwing a perfect game, has posted a near-5.00 ERA all season. Struggling with command as well as keeping runners off the bases, Cain is 6-6 in 21 starts this year. Most of his losses have come from being lit up on the mound, but a couple close calls have been a factor for him. In his last start out, Cain held the Cubs to one run over seven innings in his best start of the year. In his last three, Cain is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA. In his career against the Phillies, he is 1-4 with a 4.72 ERA.

Game Notes:

• Remember the good times with Brad Lidge. The man gave us a story to tell to all generations. It's nice to see him retire in red pinstripes tonight.
• Matt Cain is is 1-2 with a 4.22 ERA in his career at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park and is 2-2 with a 4.27 ERA on the road this year.
• Darin Ruf has reached base safely in each of his last 27 games (since Sept. 25), which is the second-longest active streak in the Majors. During that stretch, Ruf is batting .312 with a .387 on-base percentage and .967 OPS.
  

Phillies lineup:

1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Michael Young 1B
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Darin Ruf LF
5. Cody Asche 3B
6. John Mayberry Jr. CF
7. Laynce Nix RF
8. Carlos Ruiz C
9. Cole Hamels P.

Giants lineup:

1. Andres Torres CF
2. Marco Scutaro 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Buster Posey C
5. Hunter Pence RF
6. Brett Pill 1B
7. Jeff Francouer LF
8. Joaquin Arias SS
9. Matt Cain P.

First Pitch Forecast: Cloudy/T-Storms later on – 75° – 60% PoP

TV: CSN
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.