Phillies Beat Dodgers in Five....Again

The Philadelphia Phillies are going to the World Series for the second year in a row.

And for a second year in a row, the Phillies eliminated the Dodgers in the NLCS in five games.

I'm sure the pressure is building on Dodgers manager Joe Torre next year which is the final year of his contract in Los Angeles.

I did not watch tonight's clinching game which the Phillies won by the score of 10-4. I was otherwise occupied.

Jayson Werth hit two home runs. Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz also went deep. Although Ryan Howard did not drive in a run tonight he was awarded the NLCS MVP. Howard went 5 for 15 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI and five runs scored.

The Phillies bullpen was very good in Game 1 holding off the Dodgers 8-6 but not so good in Game 2 when they blew Pedro Martinez' 1-0 lead. An error by Phillies second baseman Chase Utley didn't help matters.

But the Phillies rebounded with an 11-0 blowout in Game 3 and 8 strong innings by Cliff Lee.

The Phillies came back from behind to win Game 4 by a 6-5 score on a two run double by Jimmy Rollins off Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton in the bottom of the 9th.

Tonight, the bullpen was good as it was in Game 1 when Cole Hamels didn't go deep into the game. Last year's NLCS MVP and World Series MVP has not been sharp all season including this post-season. I wonder if Phillies manager Charley Manuel will start Hamels in Game 1 of the World Series.

The World Series commences a week from today. The Phillies could find out who their opponent is as early as tomorrow evening. The New York Yankees have a three games to one lead in the ALCS and could clinch with a victory in Anaheim. The Phillies are better off with the Yankees winning tomorrow. Both teams will have nearly the same amount of rest. But if it goes to a Game 7 on Sunday then the AL team will have an advantage. Although they would have less rest they would still be in better game shape.

Regardless of who they face, the Phillies have a chance to become the first NL team to win back to back World Series since the Cincinnati Reds (a.ka. The Big Red Machine) did so in 1975 and 1976.