‘08 Phightin’s take 2 of 3 from ‘65 Dodgers

9/130-9/14 - Citizens Bank Ballpark
GAME 1 - Phillies 7, Dodgers 2
Joe Blanton (3-0) went his usual 5 innings and gave up just 1 run to the anemic Dodger offense.  Howie Reed (0-1, 4.85) 3 runs/4 innings, combined with Nick Wilhite (4 runs/4 innings) to pitch BP to the Phightin's who posted 13 hits.  Chase Utley had one of those magical days at the plate going 4 for 4 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI's and 2 homers.  Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth also went yard.  The Dodgers managed just 5 hits, which is par for the course for this offensively challenged squad.

GAME 2 - Phillies 4, Dodgers 2
Johnny Podres (0-4, 7.30) continued his woeful campaign by serving up 3 runs to the Phightin's in the bottom of the 1st.  After getting the first 2 outs of the inning Podres walked Utley and gave up a clean single to right to Howard to put runners on the corners.  Jayson Werth singled Utley home and Pat "the Bat" Burrell doubled emptied the bases with a 2 run double.  Kyle Kendrick did his best to jump start the moribund Dodger offense by giving up 2 runs in the 3rd to cut his lead to 1.  LA posted 4 consecutive singles and a walk with nobody out, yet still only managed to score 2 runs.  That would be their lone opportunity in the game as 5 Phillie relievers combined to shut them out over the final 4 2/3 innings.  Brad Lidge threw a perfect 9th for his 8th save.

9/15- Dodger Stadium
GAME 3 - Dodgers 4, Phillies 3
After dropping the first 2 games of the series the Dodgers went to their stopper Don Drysdale (5-2, 2.71).  Double D is actually a double threat, since he wins games with his right arm and his lumber.  LA broke the ice when Willie Davis doubled home Wes Parker with 2 out in the bottom of the 2nd.  Jim Gilliam turned on a Brett Myers fastball and hit it to the track following Davis' double, but the ball easily found itself in Werth's glove.  A 2 run homer by Ryan Howard made it 2-1 Phils in the 4th and a sac fly by Howard that scored Bruntlett made it 3-1 Phils in the 6th.  On most days the Dodgers would be done.  Since their offensive quota is usually 1-2 runs a game it was hard for the home town fans, who all bring portable radios and blast Vin Scully, to think that a comeback was in order.  In the bottom of the 6th LA matched the run that Philly scored in the top half of the inning.  As usual the Dodgers did it all with smoke and mirrors and a seeing eyed opposite field hit by Junior Gilliam, which scored Ron Fairly to make it 3-2.  The Dodgers tied it in the 7th by again playing small ball.  With 2 outs Brett Myers lost Ron Fairly after having him 1-2.  Myers chose not to hold Fairly on closely and the Dodger right fielder easily swiped 2nd.  Jim Lefebvre followed by coming through in the clutch to tie the game with a flare single to right.  Heading into the bottom of the 9th tied Maury Wills led off with a rope to left.  Everybody in the house new he had larceny on his mind.  Phillie reliever Ryan Madson did his best to keep him close, but Wills is almost unstoppable on the base paths, as he easily pilfered 2nd.  "Sweet" Lou Johnson executed fine bat control by hitting behind the runner and advancing Wills to third, but Fairly popped out to first and with 2  outs extra innings loomed large.  LA's chances seemed really dim because banjo hitting Dick “Trixie” Tracewski was heading to the plate instead of the injured Jim Lefebvre.  As in nature, lightning can strike anywhere and at anytime and this was Tracewski's change to capture that lighting with a clean single to the opposite field to score Wills and salvage some sort of dignity for a Dodger team that has had a miserable campaign.