Phillies get the jump on Dodgers, 2-1
NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Derek Lowe, starting on three days' rest, gives up two runs in first inning, but Dodgers come back with one in bottom of the first on James Loney's RBI double.
The Philadelphia Phillies jumped out to a 2-1 lead over the Dodgers in the first inning tonight as Los Angeles tried to even the National League Championship Series at two games apiece.
Both teams scored quickly as fans were still filing into Dodger Stadium.
After the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins and Jayson Werth singled off Dodgers right-hander Derek Lowe, who started on three days' rest, Chase Utley doubled down the right-field line to bring home Rollins. Werth then scored when Ryan Howard grounded out.
The Dodgers bounced back against the Phillies' stocky right-handed starter, Joe Blanton, when James Loney hit a double off the center-field wall. That scored Rafael Furcal, who had singled by bunting the ball over Phillies third baseman Greg Dobbs.
The Dodgers, seeking to reach the World Series for the first time in 20 years, defeated the Phillies, 7-2, at Dodger Stadium on Sunday after losing the first two games of the best-of-seven series in Philadelphia.
"You feel good when you win a game" in a playoff series, Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said before tonight's game, adding, "I don't sense as much of an anxiousness in the clubhouse.
"Right now I'd like to believe the momentum is on our side but, again, you're playing against a good ballclub and it's going to depend on how well we pitch, how well they pitch," he said.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is trying to return to the World Series for the first time since 1993, when the team lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in six games.
Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel agreed that Los Angeles "picked up some momentum" by winning Game 3, but said "we are a resilient team.
"We play day by day and, if we keep that same course and we stay with what got us here and how we did it, I feel like things are going to work out good for us," Manuel said.
The teams are off Tuesday and resume the series Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. If the Dodgers are still alive, the teams will head back to Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park for Game 6 on Friday.
One question going into tonight's game was whether the teams would keep exploiting the home-field advantage. Including the playoffs, the Phillies and Dodgers had met 11 times this season before Monday and the home team had won each time.
Torre, meanwhile, tweaked his lineup for the second straight night, benching Matt Kemp and giving Juan Pierre his first start of the series in center field.
