Dodgers wait for Derek Lowe's replacement after the starter gave up two dramatic homers and the lead in the 6th inning of last night's game 1 in the National League Championship Series.It was an amazingly crisp, well-played game till an error led to the Dodgers' undoing. Through four, Derek Lowe was doing his sinkerball thing and the Phillies were getting little off him. Then in the 5th, Ruiz singled and Hamels singled, but Rollins flied out to left to end the inning. That fly-out was a portent. Shane Victorino led off the 6th with an easy ground-out to shortstop Rafael Furcal, who threw the ball past his first baseman. Victorino, busting it all the way, alertly took 2nd on the error. Chase Utley, next in the order, hit Lowe's first offering into the right field seats to tie the score at 2-2. One out later, Pat Burrell drove another Lowe offering into the left field seats. And that was it for Lowe and for the Dodgers. It was weird how they folded after Utley's home run, but the guys on the field almost turned into puddles. The Phillies meanwhile did what they often do: they mounted a thrilling comeback win.
Cole Hamels gave up one run in the first on an RBI double by Manny Ramirez, then another run later on a sacrifice fly. For seven solid innings he was pretty much in bulldog mode, striking out 8. An impressive outing by Hamels, for sure. Ryan Madson pitched the 8th, getting Ramirez to line out to 3rd, and Brad Lidge came in for a 13-pitch save in the 9th. The crowd was 45, 849 and just about everyone was on their feet and cheering till the last out. The atmosphere was, again, electric. And the game took only 2 hours and 37 minutes.
