Game Recap:
The Phillies piled six runs on Vicente Padilla in three innings on the way to their second straight National League pennant.
What went right?
Jimmy Rollins was 1-3, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs.
Shane Victorino was 2-4 with a two run home run and three RBI.
Jayson Werth went 3-4 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored.
Raul Ibanez was 1-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Pedro Feliz was 1-4 with a home run.
The bullpen was excellent, pitching 4.2 innings, and allowing one run on three hits.
What went wrong?
Chase Utley was 0-4 with a walk.
Ryan Howard was 0-2 with two walks, ending his consecutive playoff game RBI streak at eight.
Carlos Ruiz went 0-3.
Cole Hamels only lasted 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Game Analysis:
I believe The Who said it best: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." For the second straight year, the Philadelphia Phillies took care of the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games, and are on their way to the World Series. Unlike last year, when they made it on the strength of their pitching staff, this year, the offense is clicking better than ever, and it showed tonight.
Vicente Padilla dominated the Phillies the last time he pitched in Game Two, but tonight, he was completely ineffective. Jayson Werth smacked a three run home run off of him in the first inning, and the Phils added three more runs in the next three innings before Padilla was taken out of the game. It wasn't always pretty, but it was exactly how the Phillies have played when they have a chance to finish off an opponent. Werth finished the day with two home runs, Shane Victorino knocked a two run shot out of the park and Pedro Feliz added a longball of his own to complete the onslaught. The Dodgers had a few chances in the later innings, but the bullpen did what they had to do, and shut down Los Angeles in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to finish off their last chances.
For the first time since the 1995 and 1996 Atlanta Braves, a National League team has won back to back pennants. That team is the Philadelphia Phillies, and this team is the best that I have ever seen in my fandom history. I've been rooting for the Phillies since as long as I can remember, and honestly, they've entered a golden age. The Dodgers added players to their team in order to compete with the Phillies this year, and they were still knocked off in the same amount of games as last season. This team has more guts, more heart and more skill than any team than I can remember. They play like an American League team, and if their lineup can keep putting up runs like they did in the NLCS, then they can hang with both the Yankees and the Angels.
I've really got nothing else to add tonight. I've got a smile on my face that is going to take about three days to fade away, and the Phillies look like a team that could start talk of a...dynasty. That's all I want to say about it got now.
As for the World Series, the Phillies continue their defense of their world championship next Wednesday. Games 1 and 2 will either be in Anaheim or New York, with the next three games taking place in Philadelphia. There are still four games to go this season, so let's not get too excited yet.
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