National League Game Capsules
(Wednesday, October 15th)
Final Score: Philadelphia 5, Los Angeles 1
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - It took 15 years, but the Phillies are
back in the World Series and are now poised to break Philadelphia's 25-year
major sports championship drought. Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a
homer and Cole Hamels was in complete control on the mound, as the Phillies
shut down the Dodgers, 5-1, finishing off Los Angeles in five games in the
National League Championship Series. The Phillies took advantage of three
errors from shortstop Rafael Furcal in the fifth inning to clinch their
first NL pennant since 1993, the year they lost to Toronto in the Fall
Classic. Brad Lidge came on for the ninth and catcher Carlos Ruiz caught Nomar
Garciaparra's foul pop on the third base side for the final out, as the
Phillies mobbed the field in celebration. Philadelphia made a dramatic
comeback to win, 7-5, in Game 4 behind two-run homers in the eighth inning
from Victorino and Matt Stairs. Two nights later, Hamels (3-0)
frustrated the Los Angeles bats in making his first-ever playoff road start.
The lefty allowed five hits, with three walks and had five strikeouts over
seven innings. Ryan Howard, who came into the game hitting .185 in the 2008
postseason, had three hits, an RBI and scored once for the Phillies, who
captured their sixth NL pennant. There hasn't been a title in the four major
sports (NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA) in the City of Brotherly Love since 1983 when the
76ers beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the championship. Manny Ramirez's homer
in the sixth, a post-season record 28th of his career, accounted for LA's lone
run. Dodgers manager Joe Torre yanked Chad Billingsley (1-2) with two outs in
the third inning and the bases loaded after the righty gave up four hits, four
walks and three runs. It also may have been the end of Ramirez's time with the
Dodgers. The 2004 World Series MVP, who was acquired at the trade deadline
from Boston, is due to be a free agent this winter.
10/16 00:24:38 ET
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