‘55 Boys of Summer split with ‘08 Phightin’s

9/6-9/7 - Citizens Bank Ballpark
GAME 1 - '08-Phllies 5, '55-Dodgers 2
When both these teams look at each other they see almost a mirror image.  Both were built around HOF caliber offense tailor made for their cozy ballparks.  Brooklyn drew first blood by scoring a solo run off of “King” Cole Hamels (3-2, 2.52) in the top of the first.  With the bases loaded Gil Hodges singled home Junior Gilliam.  It looked to be a big breakout inning if not for the intestinal fortitude of the much maligned Hamels who enticed Carl Furillo into a line out DP.  Philly didn't waste any time evening it up on a Jayson Werth ground out that scored J-Roll.  Ryan Howard lined a clean single to right and the "Flyin' Hawaiian tried to score from second off the arm of on Carl "the Reading Rifle" Furillo.  Chalk up another outfield assist for Furillo, who easily gunned down Victorino.  The game remained tied until the bottom of the 3rd when the Phightin's exploded for 3 runs off of Dodger surprise starter Karl Spooner.  Hamels led the inning off with a single and went to second when Duke Snider mishandled the ball.  After J-Roll struck out looking Victorino doubled off the right field wall to score Hamels and break the 1-1 deadlock.  After Utley flew out to left Jayson Werth his a 2 out / 2 run shot to make it 4-1.  Both teams would add solo runs later in the game.  The Dodgers had the bases loaded in the 8th when Ryan Madson uncorked a wild pitch to make it 5-2.  Madson settled down to fan Jackie Robinson and get Sandy Amoros to ground out to end the threat and virtually seal the deal, which Brad Lidge did in the 9th for his 4th save of the season.

GAME 2 - Phillies 5, Dodgers 3
"Old Man River" Jamie Moyer confounded the Boys of Summer for 6 shutout innings before they finally solved him in the top of the 7th.  Brooklyn scored 3 big runs to take a short-lived 3-2 lead thanks to a 2 run homer by Carl Furillo and an RBI single by Pee Wee Reese.  Ryan Howard, who had struck out in his previous 2 AB's hit a bomb to right center to lead off the bottom of the 7th.  Lefty Johnny Podres threw Howard one too many changeups and the big man made him pay dearly.  Podres lost his composure and served up a single to Iguchi, who stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Campy.  A Pedro Feliz single gave the Phils a 4-3 lead, which would eventually become a 5-3 final when J-Roll scored on a wild pitch by Dodger reliever Hughes.  Brad Lidge came on in the 9th to throw a perfect inning of relief en route to his 5th save of the season.

9/8- Ebbets Field (Doubleheader)
GAME 3 - Dodgers 3, Phillies 2
Rookie J.A. Happ gave his team an All-Star performance, but didn't factor into the decision.  When a left handed rookie can throw 6 innings of 1 run ball vs the Boys of Summer in Ebbets field, you can't ask for anything more.  Happ was nursing a 1 run lead into the 6th when the "Quiet Man" Gil Hodges lined a homer down the left field line to tie the game.  Brooklyn was riding the resurgent right arm of Don Newcombe.  Big Newk (3-2, 3.29) has been hot of late after a very slow start.  In the top of the 7th the Phills took a 2-1 lead when Dobbs singled home J-Roll, who had just tripled off the chain link fence in right center.  Newk was able to refocus and fan Utley and get Burrell to pop out to shallow center.  In the bottom of the inning Newk was able to help his cause with a one out double.  Reese singled to left and went Tagachi bobbled the ball the tall hurler from Newark New Jersey came around to score easily to tie the game at 2 all.  In the bottom of the 8th Jackie Robinson singled with 2 out and moved to second on a wild pitch by Clay Condrey, who came on to replace the injured Madson.  With 2 outs and Newk on deck Condrey chose to pitch to "Popeye" Don Zimmer, who broke out of a huge slump by lining an RBI single to center.  Taking a 3-2 lead into the 9th Newk gave up a lead off hit to Taguchi, who went to second on a J-Roll ground out to second.  Greg Dobbs flew to right for the second out, which enabled the Dodgers to give Utley an intentional pass.  With the pitcher due up next Matt Stairs came on to pinch hit.  Lefty Karl Spooner who started the series opener was brought on with the sole purpose of getting the lefty Stairs out.  Instead he would have to face Bruntlett, who bats from the right side of the plate.  Spooner, who was mediocre at best in the opener, was back in his comfort zone coming out of the pen in this game.  Bruntlett did not stand a chance as Spooner fanned him on 3 pitches to get the save.

GAME 4 - Dodgers 5, Phillies 1
Philly scored first with a solo run in the top of the 2nd off Dodger starter Billy Loes (2-2, 3.95).  Chris Coste lined an RBI single to right to score Pat "the bat" Burrell.  Kyle Kendrick was holding on to his 1 run lead until Brooklyn exploded for 3 quick runs in the bottom of the 4th.  After Duke Snider got on board thanks to a Chase Utley error and stole second, Gil Hodges once again came through with a long blast to left to make it 2-1.  Kendrick, who looked to have lost his composure served up his second gopher ball in a row, this time to Jackie Roosevelt Robinson to make it 3-1.  Brooklyn made it 4-1 when Pee Wee Reese hit a solo shot to lead off the home half of the 5th, then made it 5-1 when Roy Campanella scored on a sac fly by reliever Clem Labine who entered the game to start the 8th.  Labine threw two scoreless innings to record his 3rd save of the season in this series where the home team won each game.  Hodges, who hit his 5th homer of the season, went 4-4 and is now hitting .443, which is good for second place in hitting in the NL.