Oct 9, 2008 - 11:31 PM
0 shoutsBy PA SportsTicker
PHILADELPHIA 3, LA DODGERS 2 ----------------------------
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies have survived on the big inning so far in the postseason, and this game was no exception.
Chase Utley hit a two-run homer and Pat Burrell added a solo blast in the sixth inning to lead the Phillies to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One of the National League Championship Series.
Cole Hamels (1-0) pitched seven strong innings for Philadelphia, which picked up its first win in an NLCS game since 1993.
The Phillies won the NL Division Series, three games to one, over the Milwaukee Brewers while scoring in just six different innings over the four contests.
Trailing, 2-0, entering the sixth, Shane Victorino led off the frame with a grounder to shortstop. Rafael Furcal fielded the ball but rushed the throw, allowing Victorino to advance to second on the error.
Utley followed and cracked the first pitch from Derek Lowe (0-1) into the right-center field bleachers to forge a tie.
After Ryan Howard grounded to third, Burrell worked the count in his favor and deposited a 3-1 fastball into the stands in left to put Philadelphia on top.
Philadelphia led the NL with 214 homers in the regular season and belted five in the NLDS.
Hamels allowed an RBI double by Manny Ramirez in the first and a sacrifice fly by Blake DeWitt in the fourth. The 24-year-old lefthander was charged with six hits while walking two and striking out eight.
Lowe cruised through the first five innings, using his trademark sinker to record 12 groundouts against two flyouts before leaving fastballs up to Utley and Burrell.
He was charged with two earned runs and six hits while walking one and striking out two.
Ryan Madson tossed a scoreless eighth and Brad Lidge set down the side in order in the ninth to earn the save.
Lidge still has yet to blow a save or suffer a loss this season.
The Dodgers got on the board in the first, when Andre Ethier hit a one-out double and came around to score on Ramirez's two-base hit. Ramirez drove an 0-1 fastball from Hamels to the deepest part of the ballpark, hitting a clear panel above a high wall in left-center field.
Matt Kemp led off the fourth with a ground-rule double and moved to third on a groundout before DeWitt brought him home with a flyout to center.
