The Phillies scored 1o runs with Chase striking out 3 times and Lidge has a 1-2-3 save after everything he's been through this season. Wow, Charlie Manuel is the manager of the century. The celebration is a little tame which tells me the Phillies are focused on winning it again. This Little Red Machine will be a handful for whoever they face. This NLCS is sweeter because the Dodgers were better. The difference in this series was starting pitching, home run hitting and the Phils bullpen outperformed the Dodgers pen. Now a week to get ready for either New York or the Angels. Werth hit a pair of home runs tonight. The Phils finally put everything together and this is a sweet title. I am loving the Phillies. Every team came after the Phillies this season and they rose to the challenge. The Phils scored 21 runs off of the Dodgers starting pitching in this series. Awesome

 

 

 

Ryan Madson has had a tough postseason but he came through with the game on the line. Outstanding pitches to Blake. He challenged him and didn't get flustered when an apparent third strike was called a ball. Madson is still key for the Phillies. My heart was beating a litte fast in that inning especially with Jim Thome on deck. For all of their bullpen issues this year, the bottom line is the Phillies are 3 outs away from winning a second straight National League pennant. This will be the Phils' 7th trip to the World Series in franchise history. This year was harder because everybody was gunning for them and the Rockies and Dodgers were much better teams. A few more runs in the bottom of the 8th would be nice. Waving the rally towel now. Speaking of bullpens, aside from Game 2's eighth inning, the Phils pen has been mightier than the Didgers crew. Matt Kemp makes a nice catch to begin the bottom of the eighth.

 

 

 

Man, the Dodgers continue to come at the Phillies. Good thing we got those extra runs. I think the Phillies are in good shape leading by 6 in the 8th inning with 6 outs remaining. It would be helpful to throw strikes though. Just need outs in this situation. Madson just has to keep the Dodgers in the park. Just gotta keep getting outs. The Dodgers are showing the heart of champions in this eighth inning.

 

 

This has not been an easy year to be a Phillies fan. There were the early struggles, the injuries to the bullpen, and of course the passing of Harry the K. However, through it all, steady Charlie has kept this team together. I think the turning point in the season was that 8-2 road trip through DC, Cincinnati and the Bronx. After taking 2 out of 3 from the Yankees, the Phillies gradually took off. They overcame a 1-8 homestand and a sweep in Atlanta during June to turn it around. That 10-1 homestand before the all-star break was something to behold. Four players with 30 or more home runs. The Phils match up with New York or LA but the starting rotation beyond Lee could be a potential concern. This Phillies team has something that cant be measured by statistics. They have plenty of heart and they've won the hearts of everybody. Six outs to go.

 

 

 

 

I said it earlier that Shane Victorino loves hard-throwing lefties. Last year he hit two HRs off of Randy Johnson and we all remember the grand salami against C.C. Only the Phillies can score 8 runs and have just 5 hits. Of course 3 of those hits have been homers. The Phils have hit 9 HRs in this series against the Dodgers. And only 2 of them have been solo shots. This offense is playing great at the perfect time. There were times during the season they were frustrating to watch because you knew the potential. Now, everybody is contributing and the Phillies are feasting on the bad Dodger pitching. Nine more outs to go! Everybody wondered how the Phillies would bounce back from last Friday's defeat. 33 runs in this series.

 

 

Great job Chad!!! A nice quick and easy inning. I would continue to stick with him into the 7th although I believe Manuel will play start the 7th with Chan Ho Park. This is setting up nicely for the back end of the bullpen tonight. The offense needs about 2 more runs to be on the safe side. It's hard hitting the LA pitching because many of them have been effectively wild. Hitters arent sure where to swing the bat. The Phillies are in a strong position though. Nine more outs to go.

 

 

Great pitching by Durbin and Happ to retire Ethier and Manny with two runners on base. That couldve been the key to the game right there. Fortunately for Manny, he's not as hot as he was in last year's LCS. Hopefully the Phils bullpen will get us to the finish line. Again, the Dodgers are going to continue to put pressure on the Phillies though. The Phils have to keep scoring runs. Good game so far, but again disappointed with Cole. I dont think that was a quick hook for Cole. Up to 94 pitches and he was getting hit hard. Going forward, not sure will you would pitch him in the World Series. Joe Torre is piecing everything together and the Phillies need to be patient and take their time.

 

 

 

Another bad outing by Cole Hamels. He did not come up big in this series or in the postseason so far. 94 pitches in 4.1 inings. I believe Happ will be able to throw some strikes and get us to the 7th. The Doidgers are battling and not going down without a fight. Impressive trait. But Happ needs to throw strikes. He hasnt pitched great in the postseason for the Phillies either. This is going to be a struggle to the finish. I think we can outscore the Dodgers.

Its hard watching the Dodgers throw ball after ball. This is going to extend the game past 1 a.m.

The Phillies have shown great patience and discipline at the plate again tonight. Coming into this series, LA was supposed to have the dominant bullpen but overall with the exception of Game 2, the Dodgers pitching has not been there. Meanwhile, the Phillies have gotten servicable efforts from their staff. They look confident and ready to pounce on the Dodgers. Now, Cole needs to have a shutdown inning.

The Phillies have scored 31 runs in this series through five games. They scored 26 in the LCS last year.

Raul had a terrific at-bat in slicing the ball into the centerfield gap.

That fourth inning featured 3 walks (2 HBP). That was brutal.

 

 

 

 

 

The Dodgers are having nice at-bats against Cole and driving up his pitch count.
We all know when Cole is really on, he gets a lot of swings and misses. But he's not on tonight because the Dodgers are fouling off a lot of pitches.
Remember the Dodgers had the best record in the National League so they're not going down easily. The Phillies are going to have to bury them and put together some more run-scoring innings.
By the way, congrats to Chase Utley for tying Boog Powell's major league record of reaching base in 25 straight postseason games.
I am getting a good vibe from this game so far.
Still a long way to go and not counting chickens before they hatch or putting the cart before the horse. lol.
Loney and Ethier have had the best at-bats tonight.
This will be Padilla's last inning of work.

Cole looked comfortable in that inning. Great job. Maybe he's finding a groove. Six straight set down by Hamels.
Fortunately, Furcal has struggled this year. He had a strong LCS against the Phils last year.
The offense gotta keep adding runs.

It's good to see Pedro Feliz go yard. He's been struggling too.
Lost in all of the Ryan Howard madness and hot streak is the fact that the 5,6,7 hitters in the Phillies order has not hit with consistency in this series.
If they come around, then the Dodgers are going to be in for a long night.
I think all of those home runs would've been out at Dodger Stadium. There have been no cheapies tonight but because CBP has that reputation everybody will take shots at the ball park.

Now Cole really needs a shutdown inning. Second time through the order coming up.
The Dodgers starting pitching has been hit or miss in this series.

Two HRs to left-handed batters. That's a big concern. Fortunately he's still nursing a 1-run advantage. Lets see how far he can take it and start to have some clean innings.

Even on J-Rolls fly ball, I liked the swing. I figured it would be a matter of time before they got to Padilla.
Chase Utley and Ryan Howard showed great plate discipline and Werth had a tremendous at-bat. Both of his hits in this series have been first inning HRs.
Now we just Cole to settle down and pitch like he is capable with a two-run lead. It's gonna be hard because the Dodgers are going to keep battling.
I like what i see so far. Now the Phillies just have to add its advantage.

Cole fell behind the first three batters. Not concerned now because i think that's correctable.
Ethier gave Cole a good at-bat. But Cole has given up home runs all year. That's been a big problem.
Cant read Cole yet. Give me about 2 more innings.

 

I am very confident that the Phillies will win tonight.

They need patient at-bats and having faced Padilla on Friday will help the Phillies. They should be able to handle him the second time around.

I look for a big effort from Cole Hamels tonight.

It would be nice to get some early runs but it really doesnt matter because the Phillies have that swagger that they'll overcome any deficit.

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