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Lights Out On Lidge's Time With Phillies

By Tim Jimenez

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Brad Lidge was one of the heroes of the Phillies' 2008 World Series Championship season, but now he's moved on after signing with the Washington Nationals last week.

The man who threw that final pitch in 2008 is now officially joining another former Phillie, Jayson Werth, in Washington.

Listen to Tim Jimenez's interview with Brad Lidge in this CBS Philly Sports Podcast:

Podcast

Lidge says he wanted to return to Philadelphia but the timing was off, "Looked around and there wasn't a whole lot of opportunities to close. So, I came back to the Phillies and unfortunately when I came back the door was not opened, it was closed. Very surprising and unexpected and I was pretty disappointed."

He says 2008 will remain the bond connecting him with Phillies fans, "It was really an amazing year and a year that's one of those we'll never forget and we'll all be remembering forever." That year he went perfect in save opportunities but, because of injuries, couldn't get back to that high level.

Lidge says his family will stay in the area as he pitches in the nation's capital.

As for the fans, "They've been so amazing for me in my career here. They've had my back. I've loved them, I mean, it's been an incredible relationship and it doesn't happen very often. Of course, there's not a whole lot of fans like the Phillies fans in all of baseball and all of sports."

He ends his Phillies career with 100 saves, good for fourth all-time in team history.

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