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.

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.

The Dodgers hit the ball well against the Phillies in this game but it just wasn’t quite good enough to get the job done.  Andre Ethier was in the #2 slot for the Dodgers in this game and he was solid going 3 for 5 with 1 run scored, 1 double and 1 RBI.  Manny Ramirez only had 1 hit in this game but he made it count as it landed over the fence in left field.  He was 1 for 5 with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs.  Matt Kemp showed some life in this game as he was 2 for 5.  James Loney had a huge game for the Dodgers tonight as he was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a solo homer.  Ronnie Belliard was 2 for 5 with a run scored and Russell Martin was 2 for 4 with 1 run scored, 1 double and 1 RBI.  Overall the Dodgers had 14 hits in Game #1 but it wasn’t enough.  Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw continues to struggle against the Phillies in his career as he worked the first 4 2/3 innings allowing 4 hits, 5 earned runs and he walked 5 batters earning the loss.  Ramon Troncoso, Ronald Belisario and Hong-Chih Kuo worked solid in middle relief giving up no runs in 2 1/3 innings.  George Sherrill worked the 8th inning and he was terrible.  He walked two batters, gave up two hits and three earned runs.  Lefty swinger Raul Ibanez took Sherrill deep and that was the first time this season that he gave up a homer to a left handed batter.  Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless 9th inning to keep the Dodgers close in this game.  The Phillies are now up 1-0 in this series.

This should be a very interesting game between two outstanding young lefty starting pitchers in Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) and Cole Hamels (Phillies). Kershaw was very solid in his start against the Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs but he has not pitched well against the Phillies this season. He started 2 games against the Phillies this season and he was 0-2 with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Pedro Feliz is 2 for 4 with a double in his career against Kershaw and Raul Ibanez is 2 for 5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs against Kershaw. Cole Hamels is the reverse as he pitched horrible in the first round of the playoffs but he has been outstanding against the Dodgers this season. Hamels started 2 games against the Dodgers this season and he is 1-0 with a 0.56 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP. He has only walked 1 batter against the Dodgers in 16 innings while whiffing 14 batters. He has has a complete game shutout this season against the Dodgers. Ron Belliard is 7 for 26 (.269 avg, .835 OPS) with a double, 2 homers and 3 RBIs against Hamels in his career. Matt Kemp is 4 for 12 (.333 avg) with a double against Hamels in his career. This should be a great game to open up the National League Championship Series.