With two quick swings of the bat from Pat Burrell and Chase Utley in the sixth inning tonight, the Phillies turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead. Cole Hamels and the Phillies' bullpen nailed down that lead and the Phils go to sleep tonight with a 1-0 lead in the NLCS. That's all well and good, but they're going to need three more wins to take this home. So what does Game 1 really mean to them?I think a Game 1 win was much more important for Philadelphia than for L.A. in this series. Cole Hamels vs. Derek Lowe is definitely their most favorable pitching matchup and losing tonight with Chad Billingsley (definitely the Dodgers' best pitcher right now, no matter what you might have heard from Fox's broadcast view about Lowe during tonight's game) going tomorrow and three games in L.A. after. That's not a situation I'd want to be in.
All told, I still think the Dodgers have the overall advantage in this series, but the Phillies got a great jump on them tonight. Now they don't need Brett Myers to outpitch Billingsley to stay in the series. Instead, all of the pressure is now on the 24-year-old to keep the Dodgers out of a 2-0 hole. That's got to be a situation that the Phillies' big bats like. You can't win a series in one game, but having a 1-0 lead is always better than the alternative.
Championship Series Storylines - Day 1
Phillies 3, Dodgers 2 (Read Recap | Check Box Score)
Pat Burrell's first-round power binge carried over into the NLCS. Burrell, who went deep twice in Philadelphia's series-clinching win against the Brewers, belted the go-ahead home run off of Derek Lowe in the sixth inning as the Phillies jumped out to a 1-0 series lead over the Dodgers.
Tim Shaffer, Reuters
Burrell's blast came quickly on the heels of Chase Utley's game-tying two-run shot earlier in the inning. Getting Utley's bat going could be pivotal to the Phillies' success. The second baseman hit just .133 in the NLDS.
Tim Shaffer, Reuters
Manny Ramirez started the NLCS with a bang by continuing his October tear. The left fielder, who many credit for the Dodgers' second -half surge, doubled to the deepest part of Citizens Bank Park to drive in the first of Los Angeles' two runs in Game 1.
Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images
Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels struggled through a rocky first inning, but seemed to find a groove after that. The southpaw allowed a pair of runs and struck out eight hitters over seven strong innings to pick up his second win in October.
Gene J. Puskar, Pool / AP
Lowe was dominant over the first five innings before coming unraveled in the sixth. The sinkerballing right-hander generated 12 groundouts and a pair of double plays in a hard-luck loss.
Gene J. Puskar, Pool / AP
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tonight was more or less a must-win for the Phillies. If the Dodgers steal one, they'll be in trouble.
Game 1 means they will do even better in game 2! Cant wait!
Greetz Mike - http://www.torrentfly.org
PHILLIES....NEED MORE THEN HOMER'S IF THEY ARE GOING TO WIN.....PLAY THE GAME .....START HITTING...
A win is a win. We'll take it. GO PHILLIES!
Oh my gosh the Dodgers are getting killed right now. Yikes what's happening. They will turn it aroung when they get back to LA
we need park!
told you they needed to hit....and they did....6 more wins ...keep hitting.....