PHILLIES NEWS

What a night it was for the Phils as they faced off with the Dodgers in L.A in game 4 of the NLCS. Joe Blanton got the huge start and pitched okay allowing 3 runs on 7 hits in 5 innings of work, enough to at least keep the Phils in it as they scored 2 runs in those 5 innings. Now onto the game. In the top of the 1st, Chase Utley doubled in one run and Jayson Werth scored on a fielder's choice for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the 1st , James Loney doubled in a run to cut the lead to 2-1. In the bottom of the 5th, Manny Ramirez doubled in a run and Andre Eithier scored a 2nd run on a fielder's choice for a 3-2 Dodger lead. In the top of the 6th, a Chan Ho Park wild pitch allowed Ryan Howard to score and tie it up at 3. In the bottom of the 6th, Casey Blake slammed a solo homer and Juan Pierre doubled and scored on a throwing error by Ryan Howard for a 5-3 Dodger lead and all seemed lost until Chase Utley turned a brilliant unassisted line drive double play to end the inning and prevent further damage. Then in the top of the 8th some late inning magic saved the Phils. First "the Flyin Hawaiian" Shane Victorino slugged a game tying 2 run homer, then Matt Stairs absolutely clobbered a pinch 2 run homer a couple batters later for a sudden and stunning 7-5 Phils lead. From there J.C Romero got Andre Eithier to hit into a double play, and Brad Lidge forced Loney to fly out with two on to finish the 8th, and then retired the Dodgers in order to close out the dramatic 7-5 victory. So the Phils now lead the series 3-1 and stand just one win away from the World Series.