In Blanton’s first start for the Phillies, he pitched six innings and allowed five runs; however, he did not factor in the decision as the Phillies scored six runs off the Mets’ bullpen in the ninth inning to win. On August 2, Blanton recorded his first win as a Phillie against the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 2-1 in his third Phillies start. In Game 4 of the 2008 World Series, Blanton hit his first major league home run to become the 13th pitcher overall and first since 1974 (Ken Holtzman, Oakland A’s; two pitchers, Bob Gibson, Cardinals, and Dave McNally, Orioles, have done it twice) to hit a home run in a World Series game; he was also credited with the win in the Phillies’ 10-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.