NLCS Game 2 Preview

4:35 PM ET from Citizens Bank Park

215 Sportsguy-

Outcome: Manny Ramirez is still on fire but so is Brett Myers of late.  With Manny only sporting a career .158 (3 for 19) average against Myers, I think Brett can keep him in check.  Hopefully the right hand heavy lineup of the Dodgers has a tough time with Brett today and he can work some solid innings.  I see Jimmy and Chase getting their bats going again after an awesome game last night.  I think that’s exactly what Chase needed to break out of his mini slump there.  Look for Chase, Shane Vic and Jimmy to have a great day and be extremely active on the base paths.  I also foresee some Jayson Werth surprise action.

Final: LA 3   PHI 6
Player of the Game: Jayson Werth – 2 for 3, HR, 2 Rs, 2 RBI, BB

T0bias Funke-

Outcome: Well if the Phillies were not fired up enough for this afternoon’s NLCS game 2, word that manager Charlie Manuel’s mother has passed away, has to put their motivation over the top.  The Phillies can not let down skipper Manuel’s mother’s honor and be defeated this afternoon and I predict that the Phightin’s will come out bats a blazing.  Look for the the Phils to jump on Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley early and often as today’s game will feature much more offense then yesterday.

Final: LA 4   PHI 7
Player of the Game: Ryan Howard – 2 for 3, HR, 3RBI, 1R

Phils Take 2-0 Series Lead

Brett Myers allowed two runs and two hits in seven strong innings, pulling the Phils within one win of the NL Championship Series. Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero worked the eighth, and Brad Lidge cruised in the ninth to pick up his second save of the young postseason.

Pitching on three days’ rest for the fourth consecutive start, Milwaukee Brewers’ starting pitcher CC Sabathia had his worst outing since joining the Brewers in a trade with Cleveland on July 7 allowing five earned runs on six hits in three and 2/3 innings.

Brett Myers was also a nuisance in the batters box as he took it to Sabathia with a pesky at-bat drawing a walk and dominated the rest of the Brewers from the mound.  Philadelphia beat Milwaukee 5-2 on Thursday night behind Shane Victorino’s first career grand slam for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NL divisonial playoff series.

Some Quick Facts:

• The Phillies went up 2-0 in a postseason series for the first time since the 1980 World Series vs. the Royals, the only time they’ve been up 2-0 in the postseason.
• Shane Victorino, who had a bases-loaded walk in Game 1, hit the Phillies’ first postseason grand slam Thursday, his second career postseason homer overall. It was the second grand slam allowed by the Brewers in the playoffs (Don Baylor 1982).
• Victorino also became the first player in postseason history to have a homer, a double and two steals in a single game on Thursday.