Dodgers closer Saito not on NLCS roster

Oct 9, 2008 - 2:33 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Dodgers closer Takashi Saito was left off the roster for the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Jonathan Broxton will inherit the closer's role for the best-of-seven series, which begins Thursday night.

Saito missed more than two months with an elbow injury, returning in mid-September. But he had a blown save and a loss in two of his first three outings and was hit hard in his only appearance of the National League Division Series.

Called in to finish up Game Two of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs with the Dodgers holding a nine-run lead, Saito surrendered a pair of doubles sandwiched around a single to the only three batters he faced.

Manager Joe Torre yanked Saito in favor of Broxton, who finished up the 10-3 victory.

Although Torre maintained Saito would retain the role of closer, the righthander's ineffectiveness prompted the move to Broxton, who converted 14-of-17 opportunities while the Japanese import was on the disabled list.

Saito, 38, posted a 4-4 mark with a 2.49 ERA and 18 saves in 2007 - his third season with Los Angeles.

In 2006, Saito had a brilliant season, recording 39 saves with a 1.40 ERA while holding opponents to a .151 batting average.