Former Dodgers broadcaster Ross Porter analyzes Game 2 of the Dodgers-Phillies series
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The Los Angeles Times is pleased to have Ross Porter providing analysis of Dodgers
playoff games. Ross was a Dodgers announcer for 28 seasons (1977-2004) and is a
member of the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame. You can visit Ross’ website at realsportsheroes.com.
Only six outs away from being in a position where they had to win four of the next five games--three of those in Philadelphia--to win the National League Championship Series, the Dodgers came off the deck with the help of the Phillies to even the playoff set at a game apiece.
It has been 16 years since Pedro Martinez pitched for the Dodgers. The future Hall of Famer, who will be 38 a week from Sunday, was superb in his start for the Phils, giving up no runs and two hits in seven innings. His manager, Charlie Manuel, said before the game he would love to get 90 to 100 pitches from Ramon’s younger brother. Pedro threw 87. When he came out, the game changed as Manuel used five relievers in the eighth.
Vicente Padilla was equally sensational on the mound in his start for the Dodgers, going 7 1/3 innings, allowing one run and four hits. Padilla has surrendered just one run in 14 1/3 innings in the 2009 playoffs. Ryan Howard crushed a breaking ball to the opposite field in the fourth inning for a home run to give the Phillies a 1-0 edge. Howard has hit the most homers and driven in the most runs in baseball since 2005. He has nine RBIs in these playoffs and 19 in his career, a Philadelphia record, and he’s done it in 23 games.
Another one-time Dodger, Chan Ho Park, who had not pitched in four weeks because of a hamstring injury until his one-inning stint in Game 1, was on for the Phils to start the eighth inning, inheriting the one-run advantage. Casey Blake greeted him with a single, and then Ronnie Belliard laid down a bunt between Park and first baseman Howard that neither could field. Two on and no one out. Then came the turning-point play. Russell Martin, unable to sacrifice, swung away at a 3-2 pitch and grounded into what should have been a 5-4-3 double play. But second baseman Chase Utley, of Pasadena and UCLA, made a wild relay throw to first, enabling pinch-runner Juan Pierre to score the tying run. Pinch-hitter Jim Thome, 0 for 7 lifetime against Scott Eyre, singled Martin to third. Eyre is pitching with loose fragments in his left elbow. Ryan Madson walked Rafael Furcal to fill the bases, but fanned Matt Kemp for the second out. Andre Ethier, who batted only .194 against left-handers this season, was behind 1-2 on the count, but rookie southpaw J.A. Happ walked him to force in the eventual winning run.
This is why the Dodgers may eliminate the defending world champions. They have a better bullpen than the Phillies. Instead of returning home with a commanding 2-0 series lead, the team from the City of Brotherly Love lost a postseason game in the eighth inning on an error and a
bases-loaded walk. Ouch! It was the Dodgers’ 44th come-from-behind victory this year.
On Sunday night in Game 3, Hiroki Kuroda will pitch for the Dodgers. He has a glittering 0.93 earned-run average in three career starts against Philadelphia. Ace Cliff Lee of the Phils has never faced the Dodgers, but in two starts against the Rockies in the NLDS, yielded two earned runs in 16 1/3 innings for a 1.10 ERA.
The weather forecast Sunday in Philadelphia calls for temperatures in the low 40s and a 20% chance of rain.