Live from the World Series
Chad Durbin, who was born in Spring Valley, takes the mound at Citizens Bank Park in relief of Jamie Moyer in the seventh inning. Durbin is the first Illinois Valley native to pitch in the World Series since Russ "Monk" Meyer pitched for these same Phillies in the 1950 Fall Classic.
Moyer, by the way, tipped his cap to the home plate umpire on the way to let him know he called a good game behind the plate.
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The Phils just hit back-to-back jacks by Cole Utley and Ryan Howard to take a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. In case you're wondering, there has never been three straight homers in World Series action.
Tonight's first pitch was thrown at 10:06 p.m. by 45-year-old Jamie Moyer, a delay of 91 minutes, resulting in the latest start on record in World Series history.
The clock just struck midnight Philly time and we've still got a lot of baseball left. J.A, Happ has not pitched and likely won't. Chad Durbin could be a part of the Bridge to Lidge bullpen connection as the Phillies look to nail down a 2-1 Series edge. In fact, Durbin is up in the pen right now!
I gotta tell you, looking over a field of players in red and white, fans dressed in red and white and waving white rally towels frantically and watching baseball in October, I can't help to think I'm back at Busch Stadium for the World Series in St. Louis. The Philly fans are loud!
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Welcome from the World Series. I'm not feeling much Brotherly Love about now. It's been raining ever since I arrived in Philadelpha this afternoon. As you've been tuning into FOX Sports for the first pitch of Game 3 of the Series you'll see we're still in a rain delay. I understand they're going to wait until 9:30 p.m. local time here and 8:30 back home.
Just 24 hours ago, I was standing in the rain at Bryant Field in Princeton and the night before covering a rainy soccer game in Hinckley. I'm beginning to think it's me.
The Phillies got out to the field for some throwing before the heavy rains hit. As they do each night, local boys J.A. Happ and Chad Durbin, play a game of catch together. Durbin has taken the rookie Happ under his wing this season. Both tell me they are enjoying the World Series experience, but imagine the magnitude of the moment will sink in at a later time.
J.A. tells me he has 14 friends and family members here, including his parents, Jim and Sue Happ, of Peru. No doubt they are proud parents.
I also got to visit with their teammate Chris Coste for another assigment I'm working on here. He just recently published a book entitled the 33-year-old rookie, chronicling his long road to the big leagues.
With the rain delay, all the media types are crowded together in the press areas and I'm running into all the big guys from ESPN and FOX. I also cross paths with legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, but didn't get to hear his famous voice. There was a press conference a while ago to announce Albert Pujols as the 2008 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award. The Redbirds slugger is here along with Clemente's widow and two sons.
I'm hoping to hear the magical words of Play Ball soon! Stay tuned and enjoy the game if we do play.
Welcome back. They just made an announcement in the pressbox that the first pitch will be a 10 o'clock, 18 minutes from now. We'll be playing ball well past midnight local time. Enjoy the game everyone!
