The Phillies jumped the Dodgers for 4 runs in the first inning and it was all downhill for them after that. Hiroki Kuroda started for the Dodgers last night and he only lasted 1 1/3 innings as he allowed 6 hits and 6 earned runs earning the loss. Chad Billingsley also had a rough time working 3 2/3 innings in this game in which he allowed 2 hits and 2 earned runs. Ronald Belisario has awful in this game as he worked 1 inning and he allowed 3 hits, walked a batter and allowed 3 earned runs. The Dodgers could only muster 3 singles against Cliff Lee and Chad Durbin in this game. Manny Ramirez was 2 for 3 and Ronnie Belliard was 1 for 4 in this game while the rest of the team was 0 for 22! This was just one game however as the Phillies now lead this series 2-1.

The Dodgers are going with Hiroki Kuroda against Cliff Lee of the Phillies.  Kuroda did not pitch in the first round of the playoffs due to injury so the Dodgers probably just want five good innings out of him.  He started 1 game against the Phillies this season and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP as he worked six scoreless innings.  Chase Utley (2 for 7, 2B, RBI) and Jayson Werth (2 for 7, 2B) are the only two Phillies with more than 1 hit against Kuroda in his two seasons in the majors.  Cliff Lee has been outstanding in the post season for the Phillies so far.  He has started 2 games in which he is 1-0 with a 1.10 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP.  He has not pitched against the Dodgers in his career but that usually is a advantage for the pitcher.  Another low scoring game is likely in store for the Phillies and Dodgers.

The Dodgers were losing this game 1-0 going into the 8th inning but that’s when the game changed. As soon as the masterful Pedro Martinez left the pitching mound the Dodgers got it into gear. Russell Martin was the key on offense for the Dodgers in this game. He was 1 for 2 with 1 run scored. He scored on a bases loaded walk to Andre Ethier with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th inning. Juan Pierre pinch ran for Casey Blake earlier in the 8th inning and he scored the first run for the Dodgers on a Chase Utley error. Andre Ethier was 0 for 3 but he got the game winning RBI without taking the bat off his shoulder. The Dodgers didn’t need a lot of offense to win yesterday as they pitched the hell out of the baseball. Vicente Padilla was masterful once again for the Dodgers as he worked the first 7 1/3 innings allowing only 4 hits, 1 walk and 1 earned run while whiffing 6 batters. Lefty reliever Hong-Chih Kuo replaced Padilla and he worked 2/3 of an inning without giving anything up. Closer Jonathan Broxton then slammed the door shut working a scoreless 9th inning earning another save. The Dodgers have tied up the series 1-1 as it now shifts to Philly.

The Dodgers have declined a $2.2 million dollar option on the 2010 season for 32-year old lefty reliever Will Ohman making him a free agent. The Dodgers have paid a $200,000 dollar buyout to Ohman so don’t feel too sorry for him. He pitched in only 21 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last season and he was 1-0 with 1 save, a 5.84 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. Ohman had surgery last month on his left shoulder but he should be ready to hook on with another team in 2010. The Dodgers won’t miss Ohman.

This is a very interesting pitching matchup as Vicente Padilla will be opposing Pedro Martinez. Padilla looked very sharp in his start against the Cardinals but facing the Phillies is an entirely different animal. Padilla did not pitch against the Phillies this season but a few of the regulars in that lineup have given him problems in his career. Raul Ibanez is 9 for 28 (.321 avg, .930 OPS) with 2 homers and 4 RBIs against Padilla and he swung the bat very well last night. Ryan Howard has only two official at bats against Padilla and he has a two run homer off of him. Utley has hit a solo homer in three at bats against Padilla in his career. Finally, Jayson Werth is 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs against Padilla. So he better be careful against the Phillies lineup. Pedro Martinez has not pitched since September so it will be interesting to see if he’s rusty or well rested. He did not pitch against the Dodgers this season. He owns Manny Ramirez as he is only 5 for 30 (.167 avg) against Pedro with zero RBIs. Of the regulars only Matt Kemp (2 for 3, HR, 2 RBIs) and Russell Martin (2 for 3, 2B, RBI) have had much success against Pedro. The Dodgers would start Orlando Hudson at 2B today if they are smart. Hudson is 7 for 25 (.280 avg, .828 OPS) against Martinez with a double, triple, homer and 2 RBIs. Mark Loretta (4 for 9) and Juan Pierre (4 for 11, 2B, SB) both have also has success against Martinez. This should be a great baseball game to watch.