Former Dodgers broadcaster Ross Porter analyzes Game 4 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.

When Larry Bowa managed the Phillies, he called Jimmy Rollins his favorite player because of the way he approaches the game. Bowa, the Dodgers’ third base coach, looked on in horror as
Rollins stroked a Jonathan Broxton 99-mile-per-hour fastball for a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Philadelphia a 5-4 win in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. The defeat means the Dodgers must win the next three games to advance to the World Series.

Rollins grew up in Northern California. His mother was an infielder on a fast-pitch softball team in the Oakland area, and his dad was a weight-lifter who holds the California deadlift record of 683 pounds. Jimmy was only 5’ 5 1/2’ when he played highschool baseball, but an area scout for the Phillies listed him at 5’ 9 ‘ in his reports because he was afraid the organization would not be interested in such a small player. After his team’s 11-0 laugher in Game 3, Rollins said, ‘We’re playing dialed-up baseball.’ And, after Broxton walked a man and hit another in the ninth, the man with the nickname of ‘J-Smooth’ dialed in against the Dodgers with his shot up the alley in right center field.

The Dodgers had been outscored 13-0 in the first 12 innings they played in Philadelphia during the series before their bats came to life in the fourth inning. Ryan Howard’s two-run homer in the first off Randy Wolf put the Dodgers in a 2-0 hole. Howard tied Lou Gehrig’s 77-year-old record of an RBI in eight consecutive postseason encounters, and gave him 14 playoff runs-batted-in this year. Not only has Ryan socked the most homers in baseball over the last five seasons, but he has averaged one long ball every three games.

Phillies starter Joe Blanton retired the first 10 Los Angeles batters, meaning the Dodgers had scored two runs in 21 innings. However, a walk and singles by Manny Ramirez, James Loney and Russell Martin in the fourth got the Dodgers even. Matt Kemp rapped a solo homer in the fifth, and Casey Blake, 1 for 25 lifetime against Blanton, singled in a sixth inning run for a 4-2 margin. All four Dodger runs came with two outs as have a majority of their playoff runs. A triple by Shane Victorino and Chase Utley’s single made it a one-run game in the Philadelphia sixth. A nice catch by Ramirez kept L. A. in front. The Dodgers have not made an error in 10 games.

Dodger relievers Belisario, Kuo, and Sherrill did not let the Phils get a hit for two and a third innings until Rollins’ game winner.

There is no game Tuesday which will make it more difficult for the Dodger players who will have
nearly two days to think about how close they came to evening the LCS, and guaranteeing they
would play again at home where the series would be decided.

Cole Hamels will pitch for the Phillies Wednesday in Game 5 at 5:07. Vicente Padilla will be on the hill trying to keep the Dodger season alive.

-- Ross Porter