Nationals fans (wherever they are) have seen too much Ryan Howard. Now, the Rockies and Dodgers know how they feel.
The hulking Phillies first baseman homered again on Monday night, tying Lou Gehrig for the most consecutive playoff games (eight) with at least one RBI in baseball history. Howard, hitting .385 in the NLCS, has two home runs and 14 RBI in eight games this postseason. He’s picking up right where he left off last year, when he smashed three homers and drove in six runs in the World Series against the Rays.
Baseball stat-heads have talked all year about how the Phillies are the one team in the National League who can stand toe-to-toe with the American League’s powerball lineups (namely the Yankees, Red Sox and Angels). Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and offseason acquisition Raul Ibanez certainly give the World Series champs the depth they need to defend their crown.
Still, it’s Howard who makes the difference. The big guy in the middle of the lineup strikes the fear of God in opposing pitchers. He slugged 45 home runs in the regular season and got the Phillies on the board early Monday night with a mammoth blast in the first inning off Randy Wolf.
The Phils can become the first repeat NL pennant winner since the 1995-96 Braves Wednesday in Game 5. Given Howard’s current hot streak, we certainly like their chances.
