Shane Victorino
Phillies Reach World Series with 4-1 Series Win over Dodgers in NLCS
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 | Andre Ethier, Brad Lidge, Charlie Manuel, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Jayson Werth, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Manny Ramirez, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Sports | No Comments
For the 2nd straight post-season, it took just 5 games for the Phillies to eliminate the Dodgers from October playoffs in a dominating NLCS victory. Overcoming another poor start from Cole Hamels (4 1/3 innings, 3 ER on 5 hits and 1 walk), the Phillies scored early and often to make it clear that they intended to defend their World Series title all the way to the end.
Jayson Werth led the Phillies offense – Werth’s 2-out, 3-run home run in the 1st inning gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead after Andre Ethier had put the Dodgers on the board 1st with his solo home run. It was a great answer for the Phillies who quickly showed that they would not be denied. Werth added a solo shot in the 7th inning and finished the night with crazy numbers – 3 for 4, 4 RBI’s and 3 runs scored. Not bad, especially against his former team. Shane Victorino also had a solid night in the win – 2 hits, including a 2-run HR in the 6th inning, with 3 RBI’s and 1 run scored.
The only negative was the starting pitching off Hamels. Hamels made it into the 5th inning with a 6-2 lead, but after giving up a solo HR to pinch-hitter Orlando Hudson and a 1-out double to Rafael Furcal, Manager Charlie Manuel did not want to take any chances. Manuel pulled Hamels for J.A. Happ and later Chad Durbin who got the Phillies out of the jam unscathed, still leading 6-3. Manuel was forced to use 5 relievers, but knowing that if they won they would have a week of rest before the World Series started on Wednesday, October 28th, he wasn’t too concerned. Brad Lidge even closed out the 9th inning in perfect fashion with 1 strike out. Manuel should be feeling good about Lidge right now – in 5 playoff appearances this October (4 innings), Lidge has given up just 1 hit and 3 walks and no runs period. He has saved 3 games and won 1 game and looks to have regained that form that makes him one of the more dominating closers in baseball. Assuming the New York Yankees close out their ALCS against the Angels, it will be interesting to see how Lidge handles a World Series save situation in front of thousands of screaming fans in the Bronx – should be fun to watch.
The Phillies major concern should be starting pitching after Cliff Lee. Hamels continues to struggle and who knows how Pedro Martinez or Joe Blanton will fare against a solid Yankees lineup. The Phillies have been there before though, and their lineup is so deep and good, a Phillies-Yankees World Series should be fun to watch…
Cliff Lee, Bats Propel Phillies to Easy 11-0 Laugher over Dodgers
Monday, October 19th, 2009 | Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley, Cliff Lee, Hiroki Kuroda, Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Sports | No Comments
Ugly – I think that’s the best word to describe it. The Phillies crushed the Dodgers 11-0 on Sunday night to take a 2-1 lead in the 2009 NLCS.
Dodgers Manager Joe Torre didn’t have Hiroki Kuroda available for the NLDS against the Cardinals because of an injury and he made a bold move by adding Kuroda to the NLCS roster against the Phillies. Kuroda had had a solid year – 20 starts, 8 wins, 3.76 ERA and 1.14 WHIP – and had even stymied the Phillies back on June – 2 hits and 3 walks in 6 scoreless innings of a 3-2 Dodgers win in L.A. But Torre calculated wrong big time in this situation. Kuroda barely got out of the 1st inning, and didn’t last much longer in the 2nd inning, as he gave up 6 runs – all earned – on 6 hits, the big one being a 2-run HR by Jayson Werth to cap-off a 4-run 1st inning.
And with Cliff Lee on the mound for the Phillies, the game was pretty much over after Ryan Howard’s triple plated 2 runs ahead of Werth’s HR to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Lee was as dominant as ever – 8 innings pitched, 3 hits, no walks and 10 K’s. 114 effective and efficient pitches, and just like that Lee kept his spectacular regular season going with another solid post-season start. In 3 October playoff starts, Lee has given up just 2 ER (4 total) in 24 1/3 innings pitched. Throw in just 14 hits and 3 walks against 20 K’s and you are looking at the hottest playoff pitcher in baseball right now.
The Phillies bats stepped up to the plate as well. After the 4-run 1st inning, the Phillies continued to pund away at Kuroda with 2 more runs in the 2nd inning on a Jimmy Rollins double and a Ryan Howard RBI groundout. The Phillies tacked on 2 more insurance runs in the 5th inning on a Pedro Feliz run-scoring triple and a Carlos Ruiz RBI single. And the Phillies capped off their scoring in the bottom of the 8th inning on Shane Victorino’s 3-run bomb to deep right field. All in all, the Phillies scored 11 runs on 11 hits and 7 walks against 5 Dodgers pitchers. Victorino, Chase Utley and Ruiz each had 2 hits, while Victorino and Howard each had 3 RBI’s.
Game 3 starts tonite at 8:07PM EST on TBs. Randy Wolf will toe the rubber for the Dodgers while Joe Blanton will look to give the Phillies a commanding 3-1 series lead and a chance to close out the series at home in Game 5 on Wednesday night…
