NLCS Gameday: Dodgers at Phillies, Game 3
Posted by Amanda Orr, Sun, October 18, 2009 07:30 PM | Comments: 362
Gameday 2009, Posts
Los Angeles Dodgers (1-1) at Philadelphia Phillies (1-1) 
Hiroki Kuroda, RHP vs. Cliff Lee, LHP
Time: 8:07 p.m at Dodger Stadium
Weather: 70% chance of rain, 37
TV: TBS
Twitter: Phillies Nation
The National League Championship Series moves to Philadelphia after the Phillies and Dodgers split the first two games. The first game featured home runs from Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez. Despite a stellar performance by Pedro Martinez, the Phillies blew a 1-0 lead thanks to a throwing error by Chase Utley. After an off day, the series returns with Hiroki Kuroda and Cliff Lee on the mound.
From one extreme to another, weather will be a factor. The weather was beautiful in Los Angeles; 93 degrees and sunny. It’ll be the complete opposite in Philly: cold and rainy. The frigid temperatures didn’t seem to bother Lee in game four of the division series. “I think that affects the hitter more than the pitcher,” Lee said.
Lee has been streaky since joining the Phillies. He went a perfect 5-0 with an ERA under one in his first five starts, but scuffled towards the end of the year posting an ERA over six. Right now, he’s in a hot streak. In 16.1 innings during the NLDS, Lee allowed only two earned runs. Lee’s only start against the Dodgers came in his Cy Young year. He pitched seven shutout innings before exiting after allowing a one-run single.
Lee has benefited from the hometown crowd, posting a 2.52 ERA at Citizens Bank Park. However, Lee will have to watch out for Manny Ramirez. Ramirez is 6-for-14 (.429) with two home runs against the lefty.
Kuroda will make his second postseason start against the Phillies, with the last coming in 2008′s NLCS. Kuroda will forever be known as the pitcher who threw at Shane Victorino’s head, but also leading the Dodgers to their lone NLCS victory that year. He pitched six innings allowing two runs in 08′s NLCS, but that is only a small portion of his success against the Phillies. In three starts, Kuroda is 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and .100 BAA against the Phillies in his career. He has struck out 17 Phillies in 19 innings.
Kuroda tossed six shutout innings against the Phillies earlier this year, but there is uncertainty surrounding this start. Kuroda will be pitching for the first time in over three weeks due to a herniated disk in his neck. Kuroda also suffered an oblique injury and was hit in the head with a line drive this season.
While Manny is always a threat for the Dodgers, Ruiz has been the biggest threat this postseason. Ruiz is 7-for-18 (.389) with a home run, six RBI, and a stolen base during the 2009 playoffs.
“I’ve got all the faith in the world in our team. It’s going to be a good series, guys. This series by no means is over. It’s going to be a tough series,” Charlie Manuel said.
Break out the rally towels. Home-field advantage starts now.
Tonight’s Lineup: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Ibanez (LF), Feliz (3B), Ruiz (C), Lee (P).
Your Gameday Beer – Franziskaner
Why Franziskaner? Because I’m drinking one right now. And my mom likes it, and she hates beer, so it’s that good. Brewed in Munich, it’s not too heavy and not too light, and gives off a nice wheat flavor. Enjoy with a pork tenderloin and celebrate a Phillies victory. – By Pat
GO PHILLIES!
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
LETS GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!
Posted: 07:41 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Time for a Hiroshima attack by the Phils offense!
Posted: 07:47 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
We gotta believe
Posted: 07:48 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
This weather must just feel like a slap in the face to anyone accustomed to LA temperatures.
Posted: 07:50 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Jarod
Alright 17 minutes till first pitch by Lee. The woeful eagles couldn’t score against the raiders (not an eagles fan, but nothing to watch on tv) hopefully phils can. Go Phillies!!!
Posted: 07:51 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Prediction: Phils score more than the Pigeons did today.
Posted: 07:52 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 GWFightinsFan
Gotta get to Kuroda early!! Go Phillies!!!
Posted: 08:01 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
aww the anti eagles sentiment sucks in here, hope there aren’t any cowboys fans in here
Posted: 08:02 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
I hate these TBS guys. They are all about L.A.
Posted: 08:03 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Ray, cowboy fans are almost as bad as Yankees fans.
Posted: 08:11 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Yeah, but TBS made Philly look good pre-game.
Posted: 08:11 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
(the city, not the team)
Posted: 08:11 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
RAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLL!!!!
Posted: 08:12 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
that’s cause they are frontrunners pumping their chests about how many championships their team won and meanwhile they are from around here
wow ibanez that ball was tailing on him
Posted: 08:13 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
1-2-3 inning! Way to start the game!
Posted: 08:15 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
we need runs and more runs i don’t want to sweat tonight
Posted: 08:15 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
I’ve got tix for Game 5, and I want to be there when they win the league penant!, so they have to win tonight.
Posted: 08:16 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
justin – yeah cool weather might be a slap in the face but it’s a sinkerballer’s best friend.
Posted: 08:16 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
I dislike the Eagles this year, actually only the owner, because they signed Vick but I would never root for the Cowgals.
Posted: 08:17 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 mycruzincooler.com
Let get it going early. last 2 games were painful.
Posted: 08:19 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Remember Pearl Harbor and the Kamakazi pitch to your head Victorino!
Posted: 08:19 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
i can’t stand vick or joe banner but it would take a lot for me to not like the eagles, vick is a non factor and should be off the team by next year i hope…he’s a has been or never was
Posted: 08:19 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
WOO HOO!!! Victorino gets the first hit of the game!!!
Posted: 08:20 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Win this one for Tracey so she can party after game 5.
Posted: 08:23 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
WHEE!
Posted: 08:24 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Thanks, Joedad! :D
Posted: 08:25 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
BEAT LA! BEAL LA!
Posted: 08:25 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
They certainly seem to be off and running so far!
Posted: 08:25 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Is it me or is Kuroda taking so long that time is moving backwards
Posted: 08:28 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
OH YES!!! RYAN HOWARD IS THE MAN!!!
Posted: 08:28 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Big Brown I Believe!
Posted: 08:29 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Wax on wax off motha fuggah
Posted: 08:29 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Oh baby, look at that thing roll around in the corner…
Posted: 08:29 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
howardddddddddddddddddddddd!!!!!!!!! i guess andrew is at his friend’s telling him how every team has a power hitting first baseman like howard
Posted: 08:29 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
and andrew is always keeping tabs on madson, rollins, utley to see if the phillies are throwing games
Posted: 08:30 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 j reed
Nagaksi
Posted: 08:31 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
Oh baby! HOME RUN JAYSON WERTH!!!! Look at that bell ring!!!
Posted: 08:31 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
WERTH WHILE!
Posted: 08:32 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
So glad I am listening to the local radio broadcast. I’ll bet the TBS guys are very blah about this. LA and Franzke are having fun.
Posted: 08:32 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
The kid from Christmas Story is warming up. Suck it LA
Posted: 08:33 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
LA says the Phils just need a double to hit for the cycle in this inning.
Posted: 08:33 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
I cant here it here Tracey, we and the fans are drowning them out
Posted: 08:34 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
the announcer was all over that home run call…it’s a matter of letting the crowd control your emotions….. it’s unprofessional but these guys are doing it…..the fans get too caught up with the announcers
Posted: 08:34 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
WOO HOO!!! I’ll take a 4-run first.
Posted: 08:35 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 ray
tracey I didn’t see your post when I posted mine…..the announcer was anything but blah on that home run call
Posted: 08:37 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
It’s unprofessional for the announcers to be excited? Dude, I grew up in the Howard Cosell era; I’ll take unprofessional any day.
Posted: 08:37 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Shut em down, Cliff
Posted: 08:38 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Dave
Love the first inning score.
Figures the offense would not do anything against a scrub, but then come back with this against someone who pitches decently.
Posted: 08:38 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Tracey
I’m surprised the fans aren’t giving Manny the “steroids” chant they gave Giambi last week.
Posted: 08:39 PM on October 18, 2009
Posts: 0 joedad
Let’s hear a chant of STER ROIDS STER ROIDS
Posted: 08:40 PM on October 18, 2009