After five innings of Game 1, the Dodgers were in great shape, leading 2-0 in one of the few games of the series where they don't have the pitching edge. That all changed very quickly when homers from Pat Burrell and Chase Utley put the Phillies ahead 3-2. The Dodgers put a scare into Brad Lidge in the ninth, as both Matt Kemp and Casey Blake hit deep fly balls -- Lidge can't keep going like this forever, one of those is going to leave the yard eventually -- but they failed to score, and the Phillies held on to take the opener.All the news that came out of Game 1 wasn't bad for the Dodgers, however. Down 3-2 in the 7th, Joe Torre elected to use Greg Maddux to get three outs. Having Maddux throw eight pitches four days before Game 4 certainly doesn't rule out him starting on Monday, but it does indicate that LA intends to use him out of the bullpen. That means the Dodgers will either bring Derek Lowe back on three days rest, or start the 20-year old Clayton Kershaw. Either one of those is a better option than Maddux, who, despite all his experience, is an inferior option at this point.
Down 1-0, the Dodgers now assume the role of underdogs in the NLCS, but they're still in pretty decent shape. They have the clear advantage in Game 2, with one of the league's best young pitchers, Chad Billingsley, going against Brett Myers. If they win that one they'll have split the first two on the road, and that's all you can really ask for. The series then returns to L.A., where the Dodgers will throw Hiroki Kuroda against Jamie Moyer, and then one of the previously discussed Game 4 options against Joe Blanton. Los Angeles lost the first game, but that was expected; now the pressure is on Billingsley to send the series back west tied at one.
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)
Choice A: Billingsley shows early rookie form and walks five guys.
Choice B: Billingsley is studly and evens the series
I go with choice A
Now this takes the cake. The Phillies are the better team in no doubt. They have the better bullpen and when played horrible in game one and still won the game. You truely are one of the most idiotic people I have seen write about anything. Wait til the Phils show up and score 7 to 10 runs. Plus that have Myers pitching game 2 and he has been picthing great since he came back from up and he is going to prove you wrong. I hope that you don't get paid to write the garbage you write in your blog as you are about as cluless as i have ever seen when it comes to baseball writers. LA has manny who hit the ball good tonight to keep them in the game. Wake up and smell the coffee
Manny Ball comes to an end in 5......................GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!