What happened?
Pedro Martinez’s outing was wasted as an error in the eighth inning led to two Dodger runs, as they go on to defeat the Phillies in game two of the NLCS to even the series at a game apiece.
Who did what?
Pedro Martinez (ND) tossed seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits while striking out three.
Ryan Howard went 2 for 3 with a homer (1) and an RBI.
Chan Ho Park (L, 0-1) allowed two runs on two hits in one-third.
Vicenta Padilla (ND) allowed one run on four hits in seven and a third. He walked one and struck out six.
Andre Ethier went 0 for 3 with a walk and an RBI.
Juan Pierre pinch ran in the bottom of the eighth and scored a run.
Jonathan Broxton (S, 1) pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save.
What does this mean?
If the first 16 innings of the NLCS were ones to remember for the Philadelphia Phillies, then the last two were ones to forget.
Pedro Martinez, making his first postseason start since XX, was dominant over seven innings, allowing just two Dodgers to reach base while allowing none of them to score.
Not to be outdone was Vicente Padilla, who continued his 2009 postseason success by holding the Phillies to one run over seven and a third.
With a one run lead courtesy of Ryan Howard’s solo shot in the fourth, the Phillies turned to the bullpen to get the final six outs. Chan Ho Park, who was ever so masterful in game on of the series, was first up. After allowing a single that was just out of the reach of Pedro Feliz, Ronnie Belliard reached on a bunt single, as his sacrifice attempt was hit just hard enough to get past Park and the charging Ryan Howard.
With two men on and none out, Park induced a sure-fire double play ball to Pedro Feliz, who fired to Chase Utley for one, but Utley’s throw was wide of the bag at first, allowing the tying run to score.
With a man on and one out, the Phils sent Scott Eyre to the mound to face Jim Thome, who greeted the lefty with a single to right. Ryan Madson came on with men at the corners and walked the first batter he faced before striking out Matt Kemp for the second out of the inning.
Jay Happ was called upon to face Andre Ethier, but despite getting ahead of him in the count, Happ would walk either to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. After Chad Durbin got Manny Ramirez to pop out on one pitch, the Phillies found themselves on the wrong end of a one-run game.
The score would stay that way, as Jonathan Broxton set down the Phillies in order in the top of the ninth to preserve the win for the Dodgers to even the series at ones.
First. the good: Pedro Martinez. The veteran and future Cooperstown resident was dominant in his return to the mound. It’s a shame, however, that his superlative start was wasted by suspect defense. It’s encouraging, however, to see this kind of start from Pedro. With Hamels struggling, the Phillies needed someone to come up big, and Pedro answered the call.
And now, the bad: Everything else.
I’d tear the offense for their poor outing, but Vicente Padilla matched Pedro every step of the way. His fastball was in the mid 90s with movement, and his control was impeccable, so much so that he didn’t work a three-ball count until Carlos Ruiz faced him with one away in the seventh inning. Hats off to Padilla.
Everyone knew the bullpen was the weak underbelly of the 2009 club, but in this game, the pen, most notably Chan Ho Park, put the team in a position to escape the eighth inning with a lead. The leadoff single to Casey Blake just deflected off Pedro Feliz’s glove, and the bunt single from Ronnie Belliard was perfectly placed – not too much you can do about those.
But the biggest moment of the game, with two on and none out, was foiled by the sure-handed Chase Utley. For the second straight game, an easy double play ball was botched by Utley, whose throw sailed past Ryan Howard and into the protective netting in front of the Phillies dugout. If he makes that throw, the same one he’s made 1000 times this season, then the Dodgers have two outs and are still down a run.
But unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way, and the Phillies are left wondering “what if?” as they head to Philadelphia with a series tie.
Ultimately, the Phillies are still in a very, very good position. With home field advantage now on their side, they are sending Cliff Lee to the mound in game three to take on Hiroki Kuroda, recently off the disabled list. In that regard, the Phillies have the upper hand. Lee has been dominant in the postseason, while Kuroda is a bit of a question mark due to his injury.
But for now, the Phillies need to do what they’ve done the entire season: Pick themselves up off the ground and go back to work.
What’s next for our 2009 National League Division Series Winners?
The series shifts to Philadelphia, where Cliff Lee (1-0, 1.10) takes on Hiroki Kuroda (8-7, 3.76 – 2009 Regular Season).
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