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MLB: Dodgers draw level

Phillies pay for mistakes in game two of the NLCS

By Alexander Ferguson Last updated: 17th October 2009

Broxton: closed out victory in style

A stunning finish saw the Los Angeles Dodgers even up their National League Championship Series with the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

On a blazing hot autumn day in Los Angeles, the Phillies looked close to opening a 2-0 lead in the series when Ryan Howard hit a fourth inning home run off Vincente Padilla.

Then, with NBA star Kobe Bryant watching on, the Dodgers came to life at the bottom of the eighth inning.

Chase Utley's horrific throw from second base failed to complete a double play, scoring speedy Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre to make it 1-1, and Phillies relief pitcher J.A. Happ then walked Andre Ethier with the bases loaded to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Jonathan Broxton managed to silence the Phillies with three straight outs - ironically with Utley providing the final out on a fly ball.

Sabathia masterclass

Meanwhile on a frigid night in New York, CC Sabathia had a brilliant pitching outing to help give the New York Yankees a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angeles and a 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.

Sabathia gave up four hits and one run over eight innings of work.

The Yankees ran out to a 2-0 lead thanks to sacrifice fly from Alex Rodriguez that scored Derek Jeter and an awful mix-up in the Angels infield that meant that no-one caught an easy fly ball from Hideki Matsui. Johnny Damon scored on the indifference.

After Kendry Morales closed the gap to 2-1, Matsui's double scored Damon again, while Jeter's single brought home Melky Cabrera.

Mariano Rivera, the Yankees closer came in for the ninth to seal the victory.

The teams meet again on Saturday, although the weather forecast is poor.