The Dodgers just didn’t have enough offense in the long run to deal with the Phillies in the N.L.C.S. With that in mind the Dodgers should make a very sincere effort in re-signing outfielder Manny Ramirez who re-energized the team in leading it to the playoffs. It appears that Ramirez likes to play for Joe Torre but there is no way he will ever take a discount. It’s time for Dodgers’ ownership to ante up again if they want to win the N.L. West again in 2009.

The Dodgers looked good early in the game last night before fading away in the 8th inning. Derek Lowe started on three day’s rest and he worked 5 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs, walking 1 batter and whiffing 4. Hong Chih-Kuo, Cory Wade (the losing pitcher) and Jonathan Broxton worked the final three innings for the Dodgers last night and they allowed 5 hits, 4 earned runs, walked 1 batter and whiffed 3. The bad relief pitching wasted a lot of good efforts by Dodgers’ hitters last night. Rafael Furcal was the Dodgers’ ignitor on offense again last night as he was 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored. The Phillies were scared to pitch to Manny Ramirez as he was walked three times last night. He was 2 for 2 with a double and a RBI when the Phillies did pitch to him. Russell Martin (2 for 4, RBI), Casey Blake (2 for 5, 1 run, a homer and a RBI) and Juan Pierre (2 for 3 with a run scored) all helped out on offense for the Dodgers. But, the Dodgers are now down 3-1 to the Phillies in this series.

The Dodgers jumped on the Phillies on Sunday Night early in the game and they never looked back or let up. Rafael Furcal had a great game leading off for the Dodgers as he was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored, a homer and a RBI. Manny Ramirez also had a very solid game as he was 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored, 2 walks and a RBI. Nomar Garciaparra (2 for 3, RBI), Matt Kemp (2 for 4) and Blake DeWitt (1 for 3, triple, 3 RBIs) all pitched in on a good effort by the Dodgers’ offense. Hiroki Kuroda had a solid start for the Dodgers in this game working the first 6 innings and allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs, walking 1 batter and whiffing 3. He was the winning pitcher for the Dodgers on Sunday Night. Cory Wade and Jonathan Broxton combined to work the last 3 innings of this game allowing 2 hits, 0 runs and whiffing 3 batters. This win brought the Dodgers back into the series as they are now down 2-1.

The Phillies jumped the Dodgers in Game Two on Friday afternoon as they scored 4 runs in each the 2nd and 3rd innings and never looked back. Manny Ramirez was the hitting star for the Dodgers in this game as he was 1 for 4 with a run scored, homer and 3 RBIs. 1B James Loney also had a solid game going 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI. Chad Billingsley started this game for the Dodgers and he got bombed as he worked the first 2.1 innings and allowed 8 hits, 7 earned runs, walked 3 batters and whiffed 5 while earning the loss. Chan Ho Park, Joe Beimel, James McDonald, Clayton Kershaw and Cory Wade combined to throw 5.2 innings of shutout ball allowing only 3 hits while whiffing 7 batters. Rookie James McDonald was the standout in this game for the Dodgers as he worked 3.1 innings and allowed only 2 hits, 1 walk and he whiffed 5 batters. The Dodgers are now down 2-0 to the Phillies as the scene shifts to L.A. for game #3.

The Dodgers ran into trouble in the 6th inning as the Phillies scored 3 runs off of Derek Lowe on two homers and they made it stand up on Thursday Night. Andre Ethier had a solid game hitting as he was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a double. Manny Ramirez also was solid at the plate going 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI. Derek Lowe was cruising for 5 innings before the roof caved in on him as Chase Utley and Pat Burrell both took him deep. Lowe worked the first 5.1 innings of this game allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs, only walking 1 batter and whiffing 2 as he was the losing pitcher. Chan Ho Park, Greg Maddux and Hong Chih-Kuo kept the Dodgers close in this game working the last 2.2 innings allowing only 1 hit and no runs. The Dodgers are down 1-0 in this series.