ReutersAnd while millions of people may have switched the TV channel to watch “Saturday Night Live” open with one of their popular political skits, surely baseball fans all over were laughing at watching Moyer pitch a game for the aged.
Hit hard in two losses in the NL playoffs, Moyer left in the seventh with a 4-2 lead after an RBI grounder by Gabe Gross. He tipped his cap toward plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth and then to the crowd that gave him a rousing standing ovation.
Chad Durbin relieved and gave up Jason Bartlett’s RBI grounder that pulled the Rays within a run.
Steady rain and gusty wind threatened to postpone the first Series game at Citizens Bank Park. Fans huddled underneath the overhangs and crowded the concourses to watch No. 3 Penn State play No. 10 Ohio State.
Ruiz hit a solo home run in the second off Matt Garza that put the Phillies ahead 2-1.
Utley led off the sixth with his second home run of the Series and the slumping Howard followed with a drive into the right-field seats.
Garza, who beat Boston in Game 7 to win the MVP award of the ALCS, never seemed comfortable and kept fidgeting with the rubber.
Jimmy Rollins got his first hit of the Series, leading off the first with a single. He later scored on Utley’s groundout.
Crawford doubled off the sliding Pat Burrell’s glove in left field in the second and scored on Gross’ sacrifice fly.
Notes: The previous latest starting time in the Series was 9:24 p.m. in 1993, also at Philadelphia, after a 72-minute rain delay. ... Phillies Hall of Famer Steve Carlton threw out the ceremonial first ball. In Moyer’s major league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1986, he beat Carlton.
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