Former Dodgers broadcaster Ross Porter analyzes the Game 5 loss to the Phillies
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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.
Nice season, Dodgers. 99 total victories, a divisional title, and the winningest record in the National League. But, the truth is the best team captured the National League Championship Series. There can be no argument. The Phillies won eight of the 10 games they played against the Dodgers in the 2008 and 2009 LCS. That’s all the evidence you need. Case closed.
Philadelphia has won the last five NLCS in which it has appeared, three of them against the Dodgers-in 1983, last year, and this season. Andre Ethier’s solo home run in the first inning off Cole Hamels gave the Dodgers their only lead in Game 5, 1-0. Vicente Padilla, who had yielded only one run in 14 1/3 innings of this postseason, and unbeaten since coming to L.A. in August, finally had an off night. He issued two-out walks to Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the Phillies’ first at-bat. Jayson Werth then ripped a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall and it was 3-1. Werth would later slug his second homer of the game and fifth of the playoffs. Jayson has more extra base hits in career postseason play than Philadelphia Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, 19-13, and has done it in nearly 40 fewer at-bats.
Not only did Werth once play for the Dodgers, but so did his grandfather Dick Schofield in 1966
and 1967. WIth 41 home runs this season, Jayson Werth is one of the best bargains in baseball at $ 2.5 million.
James Loney’s second homer off Hamels in the series got the Dodgers close at 3-2 in the second. Hamels couldn’t get out of the fifth inning and was shaky in his two LCS starts, allowing seven runs in 9 2/3 innings, which has to be a concern to the Phils who open the World Series next Wednesday. A week off is too long a wait, but network television makes those decisions.
Pedro Feliz’s homer put Padilla behind, 4-2, Raul Ibanez doubled home one in the fourth and a hit batter with the bases loaded got another run in. The Nicaraguan pitcher was kayoed in that
inning and was charged with six runs. Orlando Hudson had the Dodgers’ third dinger which got them within 6-3 in the fifth. But with two on and one out in that inning, Either and Manny Ramirez both came to the plate representing the tying run. J. A. Happ got Ethier to fly out while Chad Durbin jammed Ramirez and fielded a tapper. Shane Victorino joined the home run parade with his team’s fourth of the clincher, and it was 8-3. Philadelphia closed it out, 10-4, and finished with 10 homers in the five game conquest.
After the LCS moved to Philadelphia tied at one, the defending world champs outscored the Dodgers, 26-8...............The maligned Phillies’ bullpen turned out to be better than the Dodgers relievers overall.......Philadelphia has been in five successive postseason series......Since 1995 when the wildcard format was introduced, the team with the better record had won the LCS 59 % of the time, but the Phillies (92 wins) ousted the Dodgers. (95 wins).