50 of 50

50 Greatest Phillies Games: 32. Schilling dominates facing elimination

020812-curt-schilling-400.jpgUntil March 27, we’ll be counting down the 50 greatest Phillies games of the last 50 years. This is 50 of 50.

And this is No. 32.

THE DATE: Oct. 21, 1993

THE GAME: Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

THE STAKES: Game 5, World Series

THE GREAT: After the sixth inning of game four of the 1993 World Series, all 62,731 fans in attendance that night, especially Phillies fans, were salivating at the fact this series would be tied, with the frequently electric youngster Curt Schilling on the mound for Game 5. A 13-9 lead after six? It was in the bag.

Only it wasn’t. Larry Andersen and Mitch Williams surrendered three runs apiece and ultimately the lead. Toronto won a wild and wacky Game 4, 15-14. Now trailing the series 3-1, in the manner in which it happened, many hearts sunk to the stomachs of Philadelphians.

In any event, Curt Schilling was on the mound for Game 5. Schilling was inconsistent for much of the year and was knocked around in Game 1. Schilling ran out of gas, not making it out of the seventh while allowing six runs. With the season hanging in the balance, Schilling saved his best for last.

The right-hander dominated a potent Blue Jays lineup for all nine innings, scattering just five hits and striking out six. Only two runners reached scoring position all night. Plus, Schilling’s best friend showed for him on the night he needed it most. He induced the Blue Jays into three double play balls.

The Phils recorded their only two runs in the first two innings. A John Kruk groundout in the first plated leadoff man extraordinaire Lenny Dykstra, who started the inning with a walk. In the second, Darren Daulton led off the inning with a double to left. He reached third base a batter later, then with two outs, rookie Kevin Stocker delivered with a clutch double of his own to right-center.

And that was all she wrote. Schilling took it from there.

We had hope again when Terry Mulholland was on the bump for game six. But it was Schilling who got us there.

Box score from Baseball Reference

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