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Phillies finally get their big hit

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies were scoring style points with seven home runs in the first four games of the Series. But it wasn't until Chase Utley popped a three-run home run in the first inning of Game 5 on Monday that they had more than one run to show for any of them.

That's right. The Phillies' first seven home runs were solo shots.

Utley's home run, his fourth of the Series, was exactly the ``big hit'' teammate Shane Victorino said the Phillies had been lacking when he spoke before Monday's must-win game against the Yankees.

``We haven't had that big hit,'' Victorino said. ``Meaning runners on first and second where you get that extra base hit, or you get that next knock [home run] and kind of things become contagious.''

MORE LIDGE WOES

The nightmare persists for Phillies awesome-to-awful closer Brad Lidge, who suffered another meltdown Sunday when he coughed up three runs in the ninth to take the loss in Game 3.

Lidge was a model of perfection in 2008, going 48 for 48 in save opportunities and recording the final out of the Series. It has been a different story this season for Lidge, who was 0-8 with a 7.21 ERA and a a league-leading 11 blown saves.

``I'd just like to see him go home this winter, keep himself in pretty good shape and kind of get a clear head and enjoy his winter,'' Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

NO RESPECT

Stop the presses!

If the New York Yankees were looking for bulletin-board material, they needed only to look at the back page of Monday's Philadelphia Inquirer. On it was a Macy's department store ad that read: ``Congratulations Phillies! Back-to-Back Champs.''

The wrong ad hit the presses, and an Inquirer executive apologized on its website.

CABRERA REPLACED

The Yankees received league permission before Game 5 to replace outfielder Melky Cabrera on their postseason roster with infielder Ramiro Pena. Cabrera sustained a hamstring injury in Game 4. Players can be replaced in the postseason if it is decided the injury would put them on the disabled list in the regular season.

PHILLY FEVER

The Flyers are most definitely fans of the Phillies. Not only did the hockey team move up the start of Monday's game against the visiting Lightning by two hours (the puck dropped around 5 p.m.) to avoid conflicting with Game 5, but the Flyers turned it into a mini-Phillies pep rally.

During warm-ups, the Phillies logo was on the big screen and on the bowl message boards, with a ``good luck'' message. Later, a Phillies highlight reel was shown before the game started.

Fans attending the hockey game also were given a white rally towel with both team logos. Also, popular former Phillies outfielder Greg ``The Bull'' Luzinski was shown on the big screen from his seat in a private box.

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