Late in the game, Phillies fans sit on the edge of their seats, eyes covered, and holding their breath. It takes awhile to breathe a sigh of relief (if at all). Why should the playoffs be any different?
Phillies 8, Dodgers 6: In the bottom of the 2nd inning, James Loney homered to give the Los Angeles Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. Dodger killer Carlos Ruiz hit a 3-run homer in the 5th inning to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead. Ruiz is continuing his hot hitting against the Dodgers (.600 average). Still in the 5th inning, Ryan Howard pulled a 2-run double into the right field corner to up the lead to 5-1. All of this came against Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw, who didn’t finish the 5th while walking five and giving up the five runs. With a four run lead, Phillies starter Cole Hamels got into trouble, but seemed to get out of it by inducing a double-play grounder by Andre Ethier. However, it was botched by Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, allowing Russell Martin to score and Ethier advanced to second on Utley’s throwing error. Three pitches later, Manny Ramirez homered to make it 5-4. Hamels left with one out in the bottom of the 6th with two men on base, giving the ball to Chad Durbin, who got Martin to fly out. JA Happ came on to face the pinch-hitter Jim Thome, who walked to load the bases. Happ then got Rafael Furcal to ground out to end the inning. Chan Ho Park, who hadn’t pitched since September 16th, pitched a perfect 7th, getting Manny, Matt Kemp, and Casey Blake, after Antonio Bastardo gave up a leadoff double to Ethier. In the top of the 8th, the Dodgers went to lefty George Sherrill, who wasn’t very sharp. After two walks in the inning, Raul Ibanez connected on a 3-run homer to increase the Philadelphia Phillies lead to 8-4. These were huge insurance runs, as Ryan Madson again imploded in the bottom of the 8th, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits. However, the Dodgers could not get to Phillies closer Brad Lidge in the 9th, giving the Phillies a 1-0 series lead.

Dodgers 2, Phillies 1: Did anyone expect a pitcher’s duel between the two veterans, the Dodgers Vicente Padilla and the Phillies Pedro Martinez? That is exactly what happened in Game 2 in sunny, hot LA. Padilla reached his first 3-ball count with one out in the 8th inning. Padilla left after his one-out walk to Carlos Ruiz to a standing ovation from the home Dodger crowd. Padilla’s one mistake was an opposite field homerun to Ryan Howard to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead, which held up until the 8th. Dodger reliever Hong-Chih Kuo threw just two pitches, getting pinch-hitter Ben Francisco to ground into a double play to end the inning. The rust didn’t show for Pedro (he hadn’t pitched since September 30th), as he went 7 shutout innings, limiting the Dodgers to just two hits. However, the Phillies bullpen let him down in the 8th inning. Another botched double play by Chase Utley cost Pedro the win (and Chan Ho Park a run), tying the game at 1-1. JA Happ came in to face the lefty hitting Andre Ethier (Mr. Clutch), who coaxed a bases-loaded walk, driving in the winning run. The fifth pitcher of the inning, Chad Durbin threw one pitch, in on Manny Ramirez’ hands, getting him to pop up to finally end the bottom of the 8th inning. During the 8th inning, Phillies relievers combined to throw just 16 of their 31 pitches for strikes. Dodgers closer Jonathon Broxton made quick work of the Phillies in the top of the ninth. The Dodgers and Phillies are now tied at 1-1 heading to Philadelphia for Games 3-5 beginning on Sunday night.