"That was a lot of fun," Madson said after walking a high wire for his first five-out save. The 3-2 victory gave the Phillies a two-games-to-one lead with two chances to advance to their fourth consecutive National League Championship Series.
Finding fun in that pressure cooker is what separates great closers from merely good pitchers. It is the role Brad Lidge played so well for the Phillies in their 2008 championship run. It is a role that Madson wasn't quite ready for as recently as last season.
"It definitely gets your adrenaline going," Lidge said. "Those situations are kind of what we live for. If not, you'd better check yourself. It's probably the most fun time to be playing in a major-league baseball game."
Even when the bases are loaded and there is zero margin for error. Even when you're not feeling quite right.
"It happens," Madson said. "Just a normal mechanical thing. I'm long, lanky. Got to get a lot of things in line. My good change-up wasn't there today, but it was good enough. The hitters don't know if it's good or not that day. They're just going off what they're seeing."
The younger Madson might not have handled all that so calmly.
"He was putting too much pressure on himself early in his career and when I was injured to be perfect out there," Lidge said. "Now I think he realizes, 'Hey, I can trust myself. If I can just agree with what Carlos Ruiz calls and throw it, it's going to work out.' You don't have to be perfect. You just have to make pitch after pitch."
Madson had to face Allen Craig with superstar Albert Pujols on deck. Craig fouled off a 94-m.p.h. fastball, then drilled Madson's second pitch right at second baseman Chase Utley. Utley scooped it up, ran over to second, and fired to first for an inning- and rally-ending double play.
Two pitches. Two outs.
