Utley, Burrell power Phils past Dodgers in Game 1

Chase Utley's two-run shot and Pat Burrell’s go-ahead blast turned the tables on Derek Lowe in the sixth inning and made sure Cole Hamels’ dominant performance was rewarded with the win in the Phillies' 3-2 victory over the Dodgers.

Comments

[joe l]

Phils win!!!!

[Furnstein]

A great win for Hamels and the Phillies. Lowe was really strong tonight, but it was huge that Utley could capitalize on a Dodgers error.

[slackerjoe]

AWESOME!

Let's enjoy this one and then go get 'em tomorrow afternoon!

[NCPhilly]

Players (Phillies) of the game, in order:
1. Cole Hamels - we don't win unless pitching keeps the other team's bats quiet. Hamels did it with aplomb.
2. Chase Utley - he showed up and maybe even alleviated our fears and doubts. He delivered the key hit when Lowe was starting to unravel.
3. Shane Victorino - his hustle on the basepaths started it and his hustle in the outfield keyed the defense.
4. Pat Burrell - back problems forgotten.
5. Ryan Madson - knocked out the heart of the order to kill the last real chance the Dodgers had.
HM: Ruiz, Lidge

[Hitman]

This is all the momentum any team should need. A historic comeback.

[sdphillie]

I'm not sure what to think.

I'm teaching the 1st grader about math, and the best of seven series possibilities just taught her addition and subtraction.

I even got her to tell mom that the Padres suck, and she's now a Phillies fan.

[Bill]

Awesome win! Nothing like taking game 1 and getting some NLCS confidence in the clubhouse!

http://www.phightinphils.com

[RSB]

An outstanding start to this series, tight and tense just like you'd figure. Got to love the pitching this team has gotten thus far in the post-season. That's what's finally getting this team places.

[monty]

man, the HR by utley would have been an out at shea, burrel HR would have been a 2B hit.

if the mets play there, reyes would hit 25 HR,wright 45 HR, delgado 50 and beltran 42 HR.

what a choke of a ballpark.

[phlipper]

Good points, Monty. And if the Mutts had better players, they might be up 1-0 in the NL Championship Series.

[NCPhilly]

If the Mets played there they would still have missed the playoffs on the final day of the season two years straight.

[Ryan]

Wow another bitter Mets troll. Face it - your team choked and we're in the NLCS. Don't blame it on your stadium.

[Verdeforce]

The heck with John Kruk - he is still picking the Dodgers. Idiot still wants to be on the last team ever to win a pennant in Philly. This team is already more impressive than that one, since there is now drug testing in the game and the players are not overcoming a lousy manager every game.

[stjoehawk]

"if the mets play there, reyes would hit 25 HR,wright 45 HR, delgado 50 and beltran 42 HR."

And if the Phillies played at Shea, there would still be October baseball in New York.

[EastFallowfield]

Funny how well the Mets hit in someone's imagination. They probably beat the Marlins and Braves down the stretch in fantasyland too.

[GoPhilsGo]

Great game! One down, 3 to go.

[mm]

Monty's just pissed off because he has to live in queens and support a team full of them.

[EastFallowfield]

Dodgers got one lucky run to make it 2-0. Shame they can't take advantage of our bandbox.

[Brian G]

I'm gonna predict the third inning tomorrow will be our one inning where we score enough runs to win the game.

[phlipper]

We really should give Monty a break. We'd be better too if our team had just choked in historic proportions the last two seasons.

[GoPhilsGo]

I loved that meeting on the mound with Cholly in the 8th. Great moment.

[phlipper]

Sorry, meant "bitter."

[Spitz]

4pm game is ridiculously tough for those of us on the west coast. Should I watch it from work on gamecast, or Tivo it and watch it when I get back? Decisions decisions!

Need a calm, cool, collected Brett Myers. Especially in the early innings. Its going to be especially tough for either team to come back tomorrow, as the shadows are going to play a part in the later innings. Need Brett to be strong at the start, and need the offense to jump on Billingsly early.

COME ON PHILS!

[EastFallowfield]

Oh no, we only scored in one inning again.

[paco]

The Phillies cannot play small ball.

[BloodStripes]

This is good.

[donc]

That's a signature Phillies 2008 win. Terrific start by the ace, nice eighth by Madson and Lights out Lidge (not Lidgiepooh thank god) in the ninth. Oh yeah...throw in a long overdue Utley bomb and a Burrell smash on a mistake pitch and it's just what the doctor ordered. Lidge's slider looked as good as it has in quite some time. If he's on...well that's a helluva security blanket. Just love the way this game panned out.

[go dogders!]

monty is right!... the phillies only win when they hit HRs in their patio.

[Terry Harmon]

Nice to win that first one.

Good to see Utley get off and Burrell keep it going.

Do you think we've seen the last of Taguchi for the series?

Conventional wisdom says tomorrow's day game will be low scoring with the sun and shadows. However, I'm looking for all the Phillies bats to come alive.

As always, the big question is which Brett Myers shows up.

Go Phils.

[GoPhilsGo]

Spitz, you're right. I may have to change my work schedule for tomorrow.
I did get tickets for Game 4, though!

[Vonderful]

Great win. I think the crowd really effected Lowe. Utley coming through was huge for the team and Madson nails it down in the 8th. Need Brett to keep his head tomorrow and gets some more hits.

[GoPhilsGo]

If the Phils only score in one inning, but they score enough runs to win, does it matter?

[George]

Question: What is it going to cost to resign Burrell and do you pay him? I think it's going to cost >$65mm over 4 years. Thoughts? Is Burrell good value at that price in the A-Rod, Manny environment?

[vegas]

The 1st inning for Myers is the one to get through unscathed. He needs that emotional boost from it.

How bout Utley and Burrell showing up at the right time! Even Howard had some good ABs. And Ruiz, who is this guy? Ruiz behind the plate and a couple of hits, can I buy a jersey with his name on it?

[Vonderful]

Anyone know where I can hear Harry calling those homers?

[EastFallowfield]

gophilsgo: I was not completely serious about the one inning scoring deal...

[Cory]

No worries, Verdeforce. John Kruk is on our side. He doesn't want to jinx us.

[Chazbot]

What a great game! Loved seeing the crowd get Lowe rattled in the fifth, then the pendulum swung back in a big way come the sixth.

GO PHILS!

[GoPhilsGo]

EF...I know you weren't. It was just a rhetorical (and silly) question, although I have seen comments about that in the past.

[Brian G]

Cole Hamels had the most predictable night out of anyone. In his two previous starts vs the dodgers he's gone 7 innings and given up 2 runs on 5 hits on an average of 104 pitches. Tonight.. 7 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 105 pitches.

[Knight]

Vonderful, if you find somewhere, be sure to post it. I looked around the normal spots and couldn't find anything.

[Sam]

Reyes can hit 25 home runs here? Maybe we should get him, I hear the mets are trading him because he can't win there?

[300 FOOT BOMB!!]

Man I love your ballpark...I heard the blueprints got switched with those of Williamsport's new little league world series superpark. Good win guys, im a mets fan obviously, but i'm not knocking your team at all, you guys deserved the east and deserve to be where you are, but honestly, without being obnoxious, where would those have been hrs anywhere else? Anyone have the distance on those two. Congratulations guys, in all seriousness.

[UD Hens]

Can't wait till 4:00 tomorrow!

[KidCarnivore]

Hopefully we pitch around Manny tomorrow...we dodged a few bullets tonight.

[danny]

the HR by utley is an out in any ballpark. burrell's HR was a double in a normal ballpark.

[jim]

that ballpark is an absolute joke. utleys ball is out only in that park and probably very few other places...its a shame playoff games are decided in a bandbox.

[GoPhilsGo]

So are you saying that in any other ballpark Ethier's double and Manny's double would have been fly outs?

[jim]

are u kidding? out in any ballpark? lowe reacted like it was a normal flyball, which it was.

[UD Hens]

Monty, why is your name dominicanboy08 over at Metsblog?? You made the same silly comment over there. Why are you posting on this Phillies blog? Maybe it's a little boring over there since you aren't playing baseball anymore this season?

[durrrrr]

Man I love your ballpark...I heard the blueprints got switched with those of Williamsport's new little league world series superpark. Good win guys, im a mets fan obviously, but i'm not knocking your team at all, you guys deserved the east and deserve to be where you are, but honestly, without being obnoxious, where would those have been hrs anywhere else? Anyone have the distance on those two. Congratulations guys, in all seriousness.

Manny's didn't go out. Blake's didn't in the 9th.. Durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Have fun at shitty field next year. Have fun watching the phillies in october. Go dance with jose reyes.

[KidCarnivore]

Don't feed the trolls. MythBusters just did an expose on CBP and determined that the dimensions are actually the same for both teams! Wha?!

[CJ]

Isn't it amazing how only the Phils can manage to hit the ball out of the little league ballpark?

Does that mean the Dodgers are T-ball players?

[CJ]

If the Phils win the World Series by scoring in only one inning... sucking at the plate in the rest... and hitting only "CBP Special" home runs... will it actually count? Or will MLB just award the WS trophy to the Mets, the rightful champs?

[MPN]

jim: Yeah. And its a shame that your showboat LFer kept admiring his work rather than legging that double into a triple. Newsflash genius, your guys had to bat there, too.

Sure am glad we sat Burrell tonight... oh wait.

In game four our guys need to make Lowe throw the maximum number of pitches. We gave him too many easy outs and two easy DPs.

[Knight]

I love the bandbox comments.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor

CBP's Park Factor is only 1.029, 15th in the league, and almost neutral. It slightly favors the hitter, but not all that much.

[GoPhilsGo]

CJ, good point.
When people keep repeating the canard about the "bandbox", they seem to forget that both teams have the same advantage. What a lame complaint.

[jim]

come on, those two homers are only gone in CBP. anyone who compares mannys double and said well that didnt get out wasnt watching..mannys ball was crushed to left center and hit the tall wall out there. utleys ball was a fly ball that in other parks is an out.

[CJ]

Knight: The last thing this discussion needs is facts.

[TK]

That. Was. Awesome

[CJ]

jim: Well... it sucks that this game was played in CBP then. What a damn shame. I'd petition MLB to award the win to the Dodgers based on the unfair ball park factors.

[MPN]

jim: Randy Newman and Jerry Reuss are getting lonely. Better Get back to them.

[jim]

no1 here (at least not me) is saying that the other team doesnt bat etc. im just stating that those two balls are not out anywhere else. the two teams played a full nine innings and it was a win by the phillies. i am just saying that those arent gone in any other park? do you guys disagree with that? just having a conversation, no need to go crazy and defensive

[jim]

why do philly fans get so defensive? im jsut asking a question

[redbeard]

happy bday pat the bat!

[MPN]

jim: Absolutely! Those balls would be 10-15 rows out at US Cellular Field. Go check out the park factor ratings.

[jim]

the phillies won the game...the dodgers hit too, phillies have homefield, i know all those things... i was just stating that those balls arent homers in other parks. i dont see how you can disagree?

[Durbinator]

The Dodgers hit for 9 innings, they had more of a chance the use the "bandbox" than the Phillies!

Dodgers stadium is supposed to be a pitchers park, that should be great for Moyer, Blanton, and Hamels!

[jim]

i disagree mpn... i dont think ballpark ratings are all that accurate because if you have heard from players they have stated that cbp is a bit of a bandbox.

[Voice of Reason]

Don't think Lowe was rattled by the fans -- he's a playoff vet, Think he was rattled by the Furcal error. Credit to Vic for getting the inning going -- THAT's why you run out the grounders, Manny!

[CJ]

Send ballpark complaints to:

Win Happened In Non Equal Road Stadium
c/o Bud Selig
Milwaukee, WI

[300 FOOT BOMB!!]

I knew i couldn't get a reply wihtout obnoxiousness, remember when howard did his hr bounce at shea on sept. 7, and his hr was ten feet before the warning track? Think what you want, I'm not bashing your team, I just think that your underground ballpark is a joke of a major league park.

[jim]

i have already stated all your pts saying that the dodgers bat too, etc. i am aware of that. my comment was simply that those balls are not gone in other parks. hamels outpitched lowe, phils took advantage of error, won the game
my comment was that the two balls are not homers in other parks

[CJ]

jim: Why does it matter where they would have been out of? They'd have been out of Cincy. They'd have been out of Houston. And they were out of Philly. Which is the only thing that matters. If it's so easy to hit it out in Philly... how come the Dodgers couldn't manage to do it?

[brother]

The Phils' bullpen was the best in the league playing at CBP.

Hamels had a 3.09 ERA and 1.08 WHIP (best in NL) playing at CBP.

The Phils as a team have an ERA of 3.88 (4th best in NL and better than the Mets) playing at CBP.

The Phils gave up 35 FEWER run than the Mets this year.

You Met fans are beyond pathetic, and obviously psychologically damaged from the last 2 years to be grasping at straws like this in a lame attempt to salvage some pride.

[jim]

agreed Voice of Reason...victorino's hustle was the key to the whole inning

[EDGE]

So whats your point Jim? Those Hrs weren't out at any other park? Well this game was played at CBP so they are HRS, your point is moot.

[MPN]

jim: Because the Park Factors show that CBP is a slight HR favorite park (although the wind patterns this year -- winds from the north -- suppressed HR more than in past years), doubles and triples are more difficult to hit there than HRs or singles. It's also possible that the OF angles create a slight optical illusion making the fences look shallower than they are. Many teams come in and salivate at the dimensions, but then that messes with their games. A great example was a few years ago when the Texas Rangers came to town, ran out of batting practice balls, yet their players flailed away in actual games.

[GoPhilsGo]

Brother, well said.

[jim]

cj- thanks for answering the ? and not bashing my opinion..you are right about those ballparks for sure, good point. i have been to several games at cbp.. the ball seems to travel very well there, didnt they move the fences back a year or two back? once again, just a ? .. dont go crazy

[SteveO]

Both teams play in the same park on the same day. They both have the same opportunity to hit home runs. The size of the park only comes into play when you're comparing stats, otherwise, its a lame argument.

[GoPhilsGo]

Vic is a true playmaker. Gotta love that hustle.

[CJ]

jim: Listen... this blog is full of rational discussions. The problem is that you came on and whined. You may not admit it, but you were whining. It doesn't matter how many ball parks those balls were out of because the game was played in Philly. If it makes you, as a Dodgers fan, feel better about losing to believe the Dodgers would have won had it been played elsewhere, then so be it. The discussion is pointless.

[jim]

mbp- youre right, the walls seem very close in at cbp. it seemed in the games i have been to and seen on tv...the ball travels very very well to the power alleys and not as well to center.. from what u seen is this true?

[daniel]

just want to give a quick shout out to kutztown, pa, featured on the google satellite's first image.

go phils!

[Drew]

anyone ever sit in section 141? I have 2 tickets there tomorrow...is the whole section obstructed view? Or just certain rows and seats?

[PhillesPhan]

Jim, they pushed the left field fence back five feet.

[jim]

well you are prob right about me whining, lost some money on this game ha...not a dodgers fan, actually a mets fan who enjoys having legit conversations about baseball without getting into namecaling, sorry about the whining, just heat of the moment i guess... on a side note, do u guys see them bringing back burrell next yr, i have heard some that the mets could go after him but i dunno about that

[MPN]

Drew: I've sat there before. The view isn't really obstructed. You should be fine.

[jim]

phillies phan- thanks... ive sat in right field, second deck 1st row and to me the ball travels great to left and right but center the ball seems to get knocked down a bit, u guys would know better than me, is this right?

[Don Carmen]

The big inning in this game was not the 6th with the 2 home runs. The big inning was the 5th where the bottom of the lineup forced lowe to tire by getting some clutch hits and taking some deep counts. During rollins' at bat, I was not hoping for an RBI, but just a few more pitches. With vic, uts, and howard coming up, lowes elevated sinkers and fastballs were not going to cut it much longer.

[Voice of Reason]

Would love to see Dobbsy get a start. Don't want to bash Feliz after a win and while we're on a streak, but I like what Dobbs brings to the offense, obviously. Feliz is good for the occasional clutch hit, but is a momentum killer in the regular line-up. (Wasn't TERRIBLE) tonight, but didn't make anything happen, either.

Also hate to bash Taguchi, but Jesus, this guy has become an automatic out. Liked his leadoff play in the meaningless Nationals game on last day of season, and that probably got him on the post-season roster, but i'm guessing he gets dropped for the WS if we make it that far.

Let's give some more credit to Lidge, too. The guy is still frickin' perfect. PERFECT!! That's incredible.

And kudos to Madson, Utley, and Burrell, too.

[jim]

as a met fan, victorino is a guy we gotta hate...but he does all the little things needed for a team to win,, he was busting it out of the box on the furcal error

[PhillesPhan]

jim, tough to say, some nights it really seems to carry and other nights the ball seems to die. My favorite example: the very first game at cbp was a preseason game against the Reds, and I was there. Griffey hit a ball that looked like it was going to go into the third deck in right, but the wind was blowing straight across and the ball died at the wall. alot of nights the wind makes cbp a pitchers park.

[timr]

ignore the Mets trolls. this is our night, and our postseason. and if this dude thinks that calling CBP a bandbox is somehow an original or interesting point worthy of rational discussion, he's also not worth responding to. A great game tonight and a crazy playoff atmosphere--Go Phils!

[jim]

mets troll? im just asking some ?s

[CJ]

Dobbs should have started Game 1.
Dobbs should have pinch hit instead of Taguchi.
Dobbs should start Game 2.

The first two didn't happen. I have no confidence that the third will happen.

[MPN]

jim: The wind generally only knocks balls down in left and left center. It is all totally dependent on the weather, however. On hot, humid nights with little wind the park can be a launch pad. When the wind is blowing in it can play like Wrigley under similar conditions. That was the amazing thing about Victorino's grand slam against CC. The wind was knocking balls down that night to that part of the ballpark -- and when that happens you can generally only hit the ball out to LF on low, laser line drives.

[jim]

PP- i have seen that there a couple times...other times balls that i thought were just fly balls get out

[jim]

mpn- victorino is a pesky pesky player...hate him if hes not on your team and im sure u guys love him.