Cole Hamels takes mound looking for clincher
Does this sound familiar? The Dodgers blow a late lead in game four of the NLCS and enter game five trailing the Phillies in the series 3-1? One more thing - Cole Hamels is on the mound for the possible clinching game five.
It is a situation that is eerily familiar to the Dodgers with one notable difference being the location. Last year the Dodgers faced elimination in their own Dodgers Stadium and were unable to find any answers for Hamels. Tonight they will hope to avoid a repeat of history and beat Hamels and the Phillies in order to send the NLCS back to Los Angeles for game six and maybe game seven.
Hamels has been vulnerable this season and post season. He enters tonights game with a 1-1 record through the first two rounds and is being held down by a 6.97 ERA. He has pitched well enough to win if the offense is backing him up, but his play has been less than inspiring. In game one Hamels was scene throwing looks of disgust on the mound and possibly directed toward teammate Chase Utley. It was something that has been the norm for Hamels this season. He has not reacted well to adversity all season, which will make it even more important for him to find a rhythym early on with Carlos Ruiz. Finding the strike zone early would also be a benefit for Hamels, but the umpiring in the playoffs has had questionable strike zones in each series played thus far.
Looking to hold off the hot bats of the Phillies will be former Phillie, and Dodgers game two starter, Vicente Padilla. Padilla pitched a great game against his former club in game two in Los Angeles but was handed a no-decision in the game as the Dodgers used a late rally after his departure to win the game. He pitched 7.1 innings and allowed just four hits, one of which was a solo home run by Ryan Howard. Padilla has what it takes to keep the Phillies from producing runs but how will he react under the pressure in front of a raucous Citizens Bank Park crowd? With the fans surely hopping from the start, it will be something to keep a close eye on.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will have a chance to break a major league record tonight. He enters the game tied with Lou Gehrig for most consecutive postseason games with a run batted in. The record is currently eight games. Howard already owns the National League record.
A win by the Phillies clinches the franchise's first back-to-back National League pennant and would earn them a return trip to the World Series to defend their title. A win by the Dodgers would set up a game six in Los Angeles for Friday night. Pedro Martinez would likely be the starter for the Phillies in that game, with Cliff Lee being held out for any possible game seven.
First pitch: 8:07 pm
TV: TBS
Pitching probables
Cole Hamels (1-1, 6.97 ERA) vs. Vicente Padilla (1-0, 0.63 ERA)
Phillies lead 3-1
Game # (location) - Date, time - preview/open thread/recap/video
Game 1 (Los Angeles) - W 8-6 Preview/Open Thread/Recap/Video
Game 2 (Los Angeles) - L 1-2 Preview/Open Thread
Game 3 (Philadelphia) - W 11-0 Preview/Open Thread/Recap/Video
Game 4 (Philadelphia) - W 5-4 Preview/Open Thread/Recap/Video
Game 5 (Philadelphia) - October 21 8:07 pm
Game 6 (Los Angeles) - October 23* 8:07 pm
Game 7 (Los Angeles) - October 24* 8:07 pm
* if necessary
Original Story:
http://macho-row.blogspot.com/2009/10...
Does this sound familiar? The Dodgers blow a late lead in game four of the NLCS and enter game five trailing the Phillies in the series 3-1? One more thing - Cole Hamels is on the mound for the possible clinching game five.It is a situation that is eerily familiar to the Dodgers with one notable difference being the location. Last year the Dodgers faced elimination in their own Dodgers Stadium and were unable to find any answers for Hamels. Tonight they will hope to avoid a repeat of history and beat Hamels and the Phillies in order to send the NLCS back to Los Angeles for game six and maybe game seven.
Hamels has been vulnerable this season and post season. He enters tonights game with a 1-1 record through the first two rounds and is being held down by a 6.97 ERA. He has pitched well enough to win if the offense is backing him up, but his play has been less than inspiring. In game one Hamels was scene throwing looks of disgust on the mound and possibly directed toward teammate Chase Utley. It was something that has been the norm for Hamels this season. He has not reacted well to adversity all season, which will make it even more important for him to find a rhythym early on with Carlos Ruiz. Finding the strike zone early would also be a benefit for Hamels, but the umpiring in the playoffs has had questionable strike zones in each series played thus far.
Looking to hold off the hot bats of the Phillies will be former Phillie, and Dodgers game two starter, Vicente Padilla. Padilla pitched a great game against his former club in game two in Los Angeles but was handed a no-decision in the game as the Dodgers used a late rally after his departure to win the game. He pitched 7.1 innings and allowed just four hits, one of which was a solo home run by Ryan Howard. Padilla has what it takes to keep the Phillies from producing runs but how will he react under the pressure in front of a raucous Citizens Bank Park crowd? With the fans surely hopping from the start, it will be something to keep a close eye on.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will have a chance to break a major league record tonight. He enters the game tied with Lou Gehrig for most consecutive postseason games with a run batted in. The record is currently eight games. Howard already owns the National League record.
A win by the Phillies clinches the franchise's first back-to-back National League pennant and would earn them a return trip to the World Series to defend their title. A win by the Dodgers would set up a game six in Los Angeles for Friday night. Pedro Martinez would likely be the starter for the Phillies in that game, with Cliff Lee being held out for any possible game seven.
First pitch: 8:07 pm
TV: TBS
Pitching probables
Cole Hamels (1-1, 6.97 ERA) vs. Vicente Padilla (1-0, 0.63 ERA)
Phillies lead 3-1
Game # (location) - Date, time - preview/open thread/recap/video
Game 1 (Los Angeles) - W 8-6 Preview/Open Thread/Recap/Video
Game 2 (Los Angeles) - L 1-2 Preview/Open Thread
Game 3 (Philadelphia) - W 11-0 Preview/Open Thread/Recap/Video
Game 4 (Philadelphia) - W 5-4 Preview/Open Thread/Recap/Video
Game 5 (Philadelphia) - October 21 8:07 pm
Game 6 (Los Angeles) - October 23* 8:07 pm
Game 7 (Los Angeles) - October 24* 8:07 pm
* if necessary
Original Story:
http://macho-row.blogspot.com/2009/10...
