2009 Philadelphia Phillies season

The team, managed by Charlie Manuel, began their sixth season at Citizens Bank Park and defense of their 2008 World Series championship on April 5.

The Phillies posted a second consecutive winning April to open the season with an 11–9 record, but the month was marred by the death of legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas.

[4] Left fielder Pat Burrell became a free agent at the end of the 2008 season, signing with the Tampa Bay Rays, whom the Phillies had defeated in the World Series, on January 5.

[12] South Korean pitcher Chan Ho Park officially signed a one-year contract to join the Phillies on January 6,[13] after agreeing to a deal in principle in December.

[39] The Phillies lost the next game,[40] and were in danger of losing the following night and dropping to 0–3 before scoring eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 12–11 come-from-behind win.

[48][49] Phillies starter Cole Hamels was hit by a line drive in the fourth inning and exited the game; before departing, he had retired nine out of the ten batters he faced.

[61] Carrying a .500 winning percentage south from Philadelphia to Washington, the team visited the White House and was congratulated by President Barack Obama for their championship the previous season.

[73] Traveling north to Los Angeles for a rematch of the previous year's playoff series, the Phillies managed a split despite the bullpen's struggles.

[78][79] The team's strong stretch did not continue, however, as the Phillies entered the second period of interleague play with five consecutive series against the American League East.

While they managed a single win against the Boston Red Sox,[80] it was followed by a six-game losing streak wherein the Phillies were swept by the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles;[81] Philadelphia was outscored 38–19 over the two series.

During the series, the team's 2009 All-Stars were announced: Utley and Ibáñez were elected as starters, and Howard was named as a reserve, one of four first basemen selected to the National League squad.

[89] Though closer Lidge suffered a tough loss on July 7, sacrificing a run in the ninth inning to earn his fourth of the season, the Phillies bounced back with a dramatic ninth-inning win the following night.

[94] The streak continued as the Phillies opened a series at home against the Chicago Cubs; Chad Durbin earned his first save in 11 months by pitching three scoreless innings of relief.

[95] Werth's three-run home run in the 13th inning the next night gave the Phillies a walk-off win for their tenth consecutive,[96] but Chicago ended the season-high streak with a 10–5 defeat on July 22.

[110] It became the first win of a three-game series sweep,[111] which Lee closed out with a third straight dominant performance (eight innings pitched, one run allowed, eight strikeouts).

[118] With a win on August 26, the Phillies claimed victory in the year's series over the Pirates;[81] however, the Bucs won two games in a three-night set wherein the game-winning run was scored in the eighth inning or later each night.

[122] The Phillies opened the month by taking two of a three-game series against the Giants, besting Jonathan Sánchez, who threw a no-hitter earlier in the 2009 season,[123] and Tim Lincecum, who won the 2008 NL Cy Young Award.

[125] The Phillies offense backed Lee to his sixth win the following night, with Madson earning his second consecutive save after assuming the de facto closer's role from Lidge.

[131] Hamels closed out the series with a strong performance, perfect through his first five innings and finishing with one run allowed in eight; with their 15th win over the Nationals, the Phillies matched their best season record against the franchise, set against the 1976 Montréal Expos.

In the rubber game, Lidge blew his 11th save after a rain delay to give the Marlins a series victory, keeping the team's number to clinch the division at five.

Cliff Lee pitched a complete game in the opener of the series, shutting out the Rockies through 8+2⁄3 innings before allowing a single run in the ninth.

Los Angeles closer Broxton entered the game in the bottom of the eighth—after George Sherrill allowed two runners to reach base—and coaxed Werth to fly out.

With two outs and two runners aboard, Jimmy Rollins[155] hit a 99-mile-per-hour (159 km/h) fastball to the right-center field gap, scoring Eric Bruntlett (who had pinch-run) and Ruiz.

The two previous years' American League Cy Young Award winners started the game: CC Sabathia, for the Yankees; and Lee, for the Phillies.

The Phillies allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth when Rollins committed a throwing error, tossing the ball past Howard at first base and into the Yankee dugout.

[160] The Phillies scored first for the second game in a row in the second inning; Raúl Ibañez hit a ground rule double, and a Matt Stairs single off of A. J. Burnett drove him in.

[164] After an 80-minute rain delay, the Phillies scored first in the second inning with Jayson Werth's lead-off home run followed by a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly.

[165] In the fourth inning, Alex Rodriguez hit a ball down the right field line, which struck a camera at the fence and was ruled a home run after review.

Ryan Madson entered in the ninth to close the game, allowing one run on a double play but earning his first career World Series save.

[171] After the strikeout, Marte was relieved by Rivera in a non-save situation, who allowed one hit and one walk before closing out the game and the Yankees' 27th championship.

An olive-skinned man in a white baseball uniform with "Mariners" across the chest and a dark baseball cap
Raúl Ibañez signed a three-year contract with the Phillies in December 2008.
A right-handed man in a red batting practice baseball jersey and white baseball pants with red pinstripes stands in a batter's box by home plate.
Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz (pictured) both had offseason surgeries after the 2008 World Series.
A left-handed man in a red baseball jersey and white baseball pants with red pinstripes swings a black baseball bat at a baseball. His jersey reads "Howard" and "6" on the back in white print.
Ryan Howard (pictured) and Raúl Ibañez hit grand slams in the same game against the Washington Nationals.
A right-handed man in a gray baseball uniform with red trim and a red batting helmet swings at a baseball with a baseball bat. His jersey reads "Werth" and "28" on the back in red letters.
Jayson Werth tied a franchise record with four stolen bases, including home plate, on May 12.
A man in a blue baseball jersey, gray baseball pants, and a red baseball cap stands on a green field. He has a black baseball glove on his right hand.
J. A. Happ pitched his first career complete-game shutout on June 27.
A man in a red hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses raises his hand over his head, showing the "hang loose" sign (making a fist with the thumb and pinky raised).
Shane Victorino was named to his first All-Star team as the winner of the Final Vote.
A right-handed man in a red baseball jersey and red baseball cap throws a baseball. His jersey and cap have a teal-colored shark on the front, and he is wearing a black baseball glove on his left hand.
Pedro Martínez joined the rotation in August after Jamie Moyer was demoted to the bullpen.
A left-handed man in a gray baseball uniform with red trim and a red baseball cap stretches to reach a ball with his tan baseball glove; his foot is resting on a white square base.
Chase Utley was one of four players on the 2009 Phillies squad to hit 30 home runs.
A left-handed man in a gray baseball uniform with red trim and a red baseball cap stands on a pitchers' mound having thrown a baseball toward the camera.
The Phillies acquired Cliff Lee right before the July 31 trading deadline.
A left-handed man in a white baseball uniform and blue baseball cap with a red brim throws a baseball from a pitcher's mound.
Cole Hamels left Citizens Bank Park during Game 2 of the Division Series to be with his wife, who was in labor.
A man in a blue baseball jersey, white baseball pants with red pinstripes, and a red baseball cap jogs across the baseball field wearing a tan catcher's mitt on his left hand.
Carlos Ruiz hit a three-run home run in Game 1 of the League Championship Series.
A group of men in red and white baseball uniforms gather on a baseball field.
The Phillies celebrate on the field after Game 5 of the NLCS.
A dark-skinned man in a red baseball jersey, white baseball pants with red pinstripes, and a red batting helmet walks on a baseball field while taking off his black and red batting gloves.
Jimmy Rollins predicted a Phillies–Yankees World Series in May.
A man in a blue baseball jersey and wearing a catcher's mitt on his left hand squats in a bullpen. He has a catcher's mask made of leather and metal atop his head.
Ryan Madson earned his first career World Series save in Game 5.
A dark-skinned man in a red baseball jersey, white baseball pants with red pinstripes, and a red batting helmet steps on home plate with his left foot while looking down.
John Mayberry, Jr. made his major league debut with the Phillies in 2009, hitting four home runs in eight games played.
A white-haired man in a tweed jacket, dark sweater, and a pink dress shirt waves from atop a truck.
Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas died during the 2009 season.