For the second year in a row, the NLCS ended the same way, with the Phillies beating the Dodgers in five. This time though the Dodgers had home field advantage.
Game 1 (Phillies 8, Dodgers 6) was a slugfest. Touted as a pitching duel, it turned into an offensive battle. Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez both had three-run homers. Cole Hamels got the win by the skin of his teeth.
Game 2 (Phillies 1, Dodgers 2) was a pitching duel between the brilliant Pedro Martinez and the erratic Vicente Padilla. A defensive lapse and shaky bullpen work in the 8th gave the Dodgers a 2-1 edge.
Game 3 (Phillies 11, Dodgers 0)was all Cliff Lee with a little, to the tune of 11 runs, help from his mates.
Game 4 (Phillies 5, Dodgers 4) was the dagger, delivered by Jimmy Rollins, with two on and two out, in the 9th. Put that one in the gap, score two, and win the game. And that's what Jimmy did. Shades of Game 4 in the NLDS. Oh, baby!
Game 5 (Phillies 10, Dodgers 4) was the game that ended early. Jayson Werth answered Andre Ethier's solo home run in the top of the 1st with a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning. That's when the "take a shower" chants started, aimed at Manny Ramirez, who had revealed on Monday night that he was taking a shower as the Dodgers were being beat in the 9th by the J-Roll double.
Lots of questions before the World Series but they will have to wait until the Yankees and Angels finish the ALCS.
