Game 1: Kershaw, Sherrill Implosions Cost Dodgers

In a matchup that was meant to be decided by the bullpens, the Dodgers appeared to have the edge.  However, a rare poor outing by George Sherrill cost the Dodgers a game, as LA fell to Philadelphia 8-6, putting them in a 0-1 hole in the best-of-seven series.  Clayton Kershaw cruised for four innings before hitting a brick wall in the fifth, giving up five runs on a three-run homer from Pedro Feliz and a two-run double from Ryan Howard.

The back-breaker came in the eighth with Sherrill on the mound.  The lefty walked the first two batters, and on the first pitch to Raul Ibanez, the left-fielder crushed a three-run homer to give Philly a four-run lead.  The Dodgers added two in the bottom of the frame, but it was too little, too late.  In the fifth and eighth combined, the Phillies collected two home runs, one double, five base hits, and five walks.  Sherrill and Kershaw were the only pitchers to surrender walks for LA.

The Dodgers struck first in the second on James Loney’s solo-homer, and scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to bring the game to within a run.  The offense struggled in the clutch though, going 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position, including leaving the bases loaded in the sixth.  Manny Ramirez had a two-run jack, and Loney scored twice.  Andre Ethier had three hits and drove in a run.

Game Two is Friday, starting at an early 1:07 PST.  It’s a battle of the exes, as Vicente Padilla will take the hill for the Dodgers to face his former team, as will Pedro Martinez for the Phils.