--1B Ryan Howard didn't have a home run in his first 42 at-bats of the 2008 postseason. In Games 3 and 4 of the World Series, he had three homers and six RBIs. Howard had five RBIs in Game 4, tying Milt Thompson's franchise record for the most RBIs in a World Series game. He also became the second Phillies player to hit two home runs in a World Series game, joining Lenny Dykstra in Game 4 in 1993.
--LHP Jamie Moyer made another quality start in Game 3 of the World Series Saturday night. He also made a tumbling catch-and-flip in the seventh inning that would've retired speedy Carl Crawford if not for a missed call by firs base umpire Tom Hallion. So, it came as a surprise, to his teammates and even Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, that Moyer was violently ill earlier in the day and the previous night with a stomach virus that left him unable to eat little more than soup and a piece of toast. Moyer's wife, Karen, told Fox television that he was "the sickest I've ever seen him in 22 years." But Moyer waited 22 seasons to pitch in the World Series. Nothing was going to stop him.
"Throughout the course of the game, on the field, I didn't really feel it," said Moyer, who allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings of the Phillies' 5-4 victory. "I felt it more in the dugout. I don't know what it was, if it was a virus, the flu, whatever. To me, it was a moot point. There was no question as to whether I was going to pitch."
--LHP Cole Hamels is 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA in four postseason starts. He has allowed only 18 hits and struck out 27 in 29 innings. So, with a chance to win their first World Series since 1980, there's nobody the Phillies would rather have on the mound for Game 5 on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.
Hamels, 24, admits he has learned to control his emotions and block out outside distractions, especially during the playoffs. As usual, he credits LHP Jamie Moyer for aiding his maturation. And there won't be any bigger distraction than a World Series title that awaits if the Phillies can win Monday.
"I know when I get out there on the mound, everything kind of disappears," Hamels said. "I know I have a job to do, and I know I've practiced so hard to execute this game and to also enjoy it because it's a tremendous moment that not too many people have the opportunity to do. Look at Jamie Moyer. It took him 20-something years to finally get this one opportunity. So, looking at it, I think I focus more on looking at that day and getting one out at a time, going inning by inning."
BY THE NUMBERS: 15 -- Pitchers to hit a home run in a World Series game. Joe Blanton, who had nine at-bats in the American League before this season, became the 15th Sunday night.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "To be able to have two home runs in the World Series, that's the kind of stuff you dream of when you're a teenager. I don't know. I mean, I've just been kind of hanging with it the entire time. When you do have a cold spell, that's part of the game. You have your ups and downs, your good days and bad days. It's just about staying on the same plane." -- 1B Ryan Howard.
