Game 5

Random thoughts from last night's nail biting, must win:

* Lincecum looked uneasy early in 1st and then settled down. Halladay looked unsettled in the 2nd and now we know why, a strained groin he suffered that inning. 

* We know Halladay is intense, but we saw the feistiness last night as stared down Burrell in the 2nd.

* The Phillies really missed the opportunity to deliver a knockout blow in the 3rd with 4 on the board and runners on 2nd and 3rd.

* Werth's throw to get Ross at third to end the 4th didn't look like a hose but it was a strong, strong throw.

* Was this Halladay's best outing of the season? Yes, he's thrown a perfect game and a post-season no-hitter. And yet, grinding out a win when you don't have your best stuff, are hurt, and conditions are poor (like the downpour last night) when your team's season is on the line is a masterful performance even if it isn't pretty.

* Question for Manuel - in the top of the 7th, if you knew you were pinch hitting for Halladay why didn't you have the struggling Ibanez bunt Rollins to 2nd after his lead off hit. that way, you give Ruiz and Gload chances to knock him in. Or maybe the plan was for Rollins to steal 2nd during Ibanez's at bat, but never got the chance. he wound up stealing 2nd and 3rd.

* Pat the Bat's 8th inning strike out was vintage Burrell: flailing at a low and away pitch.