Phillies Clinch Trip To World Series Wednesday Winning 5-1
posted October 15, 2008
) Photo by Tim Evearitt (file photo) Cole Hamels dominated the Dodgers. |
Game Matchup . . Day . Date
Gm 1 LAD @ PHI Thu Oct. 9. Phillies win, 3-2
Gm 2 LAD @ PHI Fri Oct. 10. Phillies win, 8-5
Gm 3 PHI @ LAD Sun Oct. 12. Dodgers win, 7-2
Gm 4 PHI @ LAD Mon Oct. 13. Phillies win, 7-5
Gm 5 PHI @ LAD Wed Oct. 15. Phillies win, 5-1.
* * * * * * *
Using a perfect script without a surprise ending, the Phillies captured the National League pennant with a 5-1 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. With it comes their first trip to the World Series since 1993.
With the Phils never straying from their opportunistic best, Jimmy Rollins scorched a leadoff homer on the game's eighth pitch, much like he did in the Game 4 NLDS clincher against Milwaukee. With a lead and the ball
in ace Cole Hamels' capable left hand, it seemed inevitable.
The Dodgers never had a chance.
The Phillies are in, and now await the winner of the American League Championship Series, where the Rays lead the Red Sox, 3-1.
Rollins' homer to right-center rattled Dodgers righty Chad Billingsley, and the 24-year-old unraveled in the third. Walks to Rollins and Chase Utley and two-out RBI singles by Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell pushed the lead to 3-0. Billingsley's final act was issuing an intentional walk to Shane Victorino.
Sloppy Dodgers defense, specifically three errors by shortstop Rafael Furcal, led to two unearned runs in the fifth.
While Hamels welcomed the support, he was at his dominating best, posting a 1.23 ERA in three postseason starts, and ending each of his final five innings with strikeouts.
The final one came on Hamels' 104th pitch, and caught Jeff Kent looking, preserving a four-run lead in the seventh. Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge handled the final six outs, setting off a celebration that had been coming for 15 years.
Rollins quelled 56,800 Dodgers fans and Hamels kept them quiet, save for a Manny Ramirez home run in the sixth and a blip of tension in his seventh and final inning.
___________
Adapted from MLB.com
) Photo by Tim Evearitt (file photo) Manager Charlie Manuel will fly to Virginia to attend the funeral of his 87-year old mother who died Tuesday. |
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |