The Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants are set to meet in this year’s National League Championship Series starting Saturday, October 16th at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies are entering familiar territory in light of their ability to reach the NLCS on three consecutive occasions. San Francisco last won the pennant in 2002 and they had not reached post-season play since 2003. “We were fortunate to have come out on top,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy after their Game 4 win on Monday night. “We know it. We knew we had our hands full with the pitching. We’re fortunate to have outstanding pitching, too, and what a job they did.”  Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is the projected Game 1 starting pitcher for San Francisco. During the regular season he collected a 16-10 record with a 3.43 ERA. His debut NLDS start featured 14 strikeouts and just two hits allowed in a victory over the Atlanta Braves. Roy Halladay will be set to challenge Lincecum on the hill, which should make for the most appealing pitching duel in the 2010 playoffs. Halladay just recently pitched the first post-season no-hitter in over 50 years against the Cincinnati Reds. The 12-year veteran was 21-10 this season with a 2.44 ERA. NLCS tickets are now available right here at AceTicket.com! Complete NLDS Schedule Game 1 Oct. 16 Giants at Phillies 7:30 pm Game 2 Oct. 17 Giants at Phillies 8:00 pm Game 3 Oct. 19 Phillies at Giants 4:00 pm Game 4 Oct. 20 Phillies at Giants 7:30 pm Game 5 Oct. 21 Phillies at Giants 7:30 pm if necessary Game 6 Oct. 23 Giants at Phillies 3:30 pm if necessary Game 7 Oct. 24 Giants at Phillies 7:30 pm if necessary

Roy Oswalt tossed a gem for the Philadelphia Phillies to expand their NL East lead to six, allowing just one hit through seven innings to defeat the Atlanta Braves 1-0 last night at Citizens Bank Park. The lone run came in the eighth inning when Raul Ibanez doubled to left to score Jason Werth. Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge came in to keep the Braves scoreless for the final six outs. After watching starters Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay beat out their division rivals, Oswalt knew it was his job to keep building momentum for the club with six games left on the regular season schedule.  The Phillies are now six games ahead of the Braves and will look to officially claim the division in their next series against the New York Mets. “I didn’t want them to do something I couldn’t do,” said Oswalt. “I’m trying to push them as much as possible and they’re doing that off me. Anytime you feed off each other, it helps down the stretch.” Find the best deals for Philadelphia Phillies playoff tickets right here at AceTicket.com!

The Philadelphia Phillies produced four runs in the ninth inning for the bullpen to easily shut the door from there to defeat their interleague rival New York Yankees 7-1 yesterday in the Bronx. Kyle Kendrick was stellar on the mound, allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings of work. The young right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.20 ERA in his last eight starts. “I feel like I’m getting better every time I’m out there,” he said. “I think it’s just learning and maturing.” Ryan Howard started things off for the Phillies in the top of the fourth with a single to right to score Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco. Victorino then stepped back up to the plate in the fifth to belt a two-run homer for Philadelphia to gain the initial 3-1 advantage. The Yankees could only follow up with one run, courtesy of Robinson Cano’s single to right to bring in Mark Teixeira. The Phillies are now scheduled to return to Citizens Bank Park for a weekend series against the Minnesota Twins. The club will then play host to the Cleveland Indians for three games starting Tuesday, June 22nd. Philadelphia Phillies tickets are available now with us at Ace!

All-Star centerfielder Shane Victorino has signed a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies that will keep him with the team through the 2012 season. A major part of the Phillies World Series Championship in 2008 and appearance in 2009, the All-Star centerfielder signed a three year $22 million contract. Victorino racked up two Golden Glove awards in a row for the Phils; while carrying a .292 batting average, .355 obp, hitting at least ten home runs, and providing consistent steals. Originally asking for $5.8 million at arbitration, Victorino’s deal will get him an average of $7.3 million per year – similar to a deal the Phillies offered to pitcher Joe Blanton. 2010 Philadelphia Phillies tickets are available now, including many discount games starting at or under face value!

The New York Yankees rallied for three runs in the eighth inning and another in the ninth, but finally after a Derek Jeter double-play grounder and Mark Teixeira strikeout Philadelphia fans were able to take a deep breath and realize that there will in fact be a Game 6. Chase Utley was the leading contributor for the Phillies victory with two home runs and four RBI’s. Cliff Lee from the mound let up five runs in seven innings, but none the less completed the job. “We definitely have the momentum,” said Phillies reliever Ryan Madson of the tough final inning. “I didn’t care if they scored one or two, as long as they didn’t score three.” The Yankees will now meet the Phillies in New York this Wednesday at 7:57 PM. Get ready for a classic Pedro Martinez Andy Pettitte showdown. Pedro will be ready on five days rest while Pettitte will battle on three. Yankees manager Joe Girardi is still uncertain about whether he should give Pettitte the ball. “Physically I’ve got to see how he is,” said Girardi. “He threw a side Monday and felt good. But I’ll check with him Tuesday.” World Series tickets are available now!

Yorvit Torrealba knocked a two run homer in the second inning and from there the Colorado Rockies held on to win 5-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of their National League Division Series. “It’s huge,” said Torrealba. “Going back to Denver, that was our goal, if we can win at least one game here – and we did.” Aaron Cook allowed three runs and seven hits in five-plus innings for Colorado. The sinker specialist earned 12 of 15 outs from strikeouts or grounders. “His sinker was downhill and he was really working both sides of the plate,” Torrealba added. The Phillies came back from an early 4-0 Rockies lead to even the score heading into the eighth inning, when Jason Werth homered to right center for the go-ahead run.  The series is all tied up as they make their way to Coors Field in Colorado.  Game 2 is scheduled for October 10th at 9:37 PM. NLDS tickets can be found right here at AceTicket.com!

Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee retired 26 straight batters in his first career playoff start, as Philadelphia went on to win over the Colorado Rockies 5-1 in Game 1 of their National League Division Series. “Up until the fifth, it was one of the better games he had pitched over the course of the month,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “He was really, really on his game into the fifth. He had all his stuff.” In all nine innings pitched Lee allowed just six hits with four coming from two hitters (Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki).  Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, and Raul Ibanez all knocked multiple hits for Philadelphia. The NL East champs will again host the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park today at 2:37 PM. Cole Hamels will get the call to take the mound for the Phillies against Colorado’s Aaron Cook. NLDS tickets are available now with us at AceTicket.com!

The Philadelphia Phillies and pitcher Pedro Martinez agree on a deal that will return Martinez to the NL East once again. The contract is said to be a 1 year/$1 million. Martinez is pleased with going to the Phillies and hopes he can aid the injury prone pitching rotation. Martinez told reporters that he regrets pitching while being hurt back in New York, but feels good right now. The Phillies have put him on the 15 day DL and will have him pitch in the minors before returning to the majors. Philadelphia Phillies tickets are available now

Red Sox ace Josh Beckett followed up a 5th inning Phillies rally with a line-drive homer to left, his first since last year (in the same building). Beckett wanted nothing to do with the usual discussion a pitcher has after a game with a homer. “I don’t want to talk about that,” he said. “I just want to think about what helped us lose.” A four-run 5th inning and a 6-run disaster in the 7th inning prevented the Sox from leaving Philly with the sweep. After Beckett gave up two in the 7th, rookie fireballer Daniel Bard couldn’t slow down the surging Phillies. Bard walked three and gave up two hits, allowing 4 runs in just two-thirds of an inning. The Sox would benefit from a Julio Lugo sacrifice fly in the 8th, but it was not enough to beat the defending champs. Despite the loss, the Sox won the series and remain two games ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East. Boston Red Sox tickets are available now!

Dave Bush pitched magnificently for the Milwaukee Brewers today, getting through 7 2/3 innings before surrendering his first hit.  Phillies slugger Matt Stairs ended Bush’s dreams of a no hitter with a shot that banked of the foul pole, resulting in a solo home run. Jimmy Rollins recorded a single before Bush was taken out, all in all letting up just one run off two hits and three walks.  This is the second time Bush has flirted with history, as he went to the eighth inning with out allowing a hit in a start last season. The Brewers offense broke out in the 4th inning when Ryan Braun nailed a two-run homer.  After the Brew crew never looked back, tallying a total of 6 runs for the game.  Look for the Brewers Friday against the Astros at 7:10 pm in Houston.  Philadelphia Phillies tickets can be found right here at Aceticket.com!