The Philadelphia Phillies will contest the World Series for the first time in 15 years after a 5-1 victory over the LA Dodgers.
Phillies go for first World Series title since 1980 after Dodgers win
The Philadelphia Phillies will contest the World Series for the first time in 15 years after a 5-1 victory over the LA Dodgers gave them the National League Championship title.
The Phillies clinched the best-of-seven series 4-1 after their victory in Los Angeles, and they will now go up against either the Tampa Bay Rays of defending champions Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic.
Philadelphia, who last won a World Series title in 1980, got off to the perfect start in LA as they went into the fifth game of the series 3-1 ahead with shortstop Jimmy Rollins smashing a solo home run in the first innings.
Pitcher Chad Billingsley gave up two more runs in the third innings and two errors from Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal allowed Ryan Howard and Chase Utley to score in the fifth.
Manny Ramirez got the Dodgers on the board with a solo homer in the sixth over right-field off Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, but it could not spoil his or his team's day.
MVP
Left-handed Hamels was named MVP of the Championship Series after recording his third win of the play-offs.
"Your goal is always to go out and leave your mark on the game," Phillies slugger Howard said.
"This is special, now we have to go out and try to win the next series."
Home run hitter Rollins said that the team now had the chance to step out of the shadow of the World Series team of 1993.
"Sometimes you swing and you miss those," said Rollins of his homer.
"Our goal is to win the World Series (though), not to win the National League Series. We look at it like we've qualified, now we have a chance."
"We've been hearing about the '93 team over and over, and we finally get to make our own mark."
Praise
Dodgers manager Joe Torre praised the Phillies for their home-run attitude during the series, as his men came down to earth with a bump after sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the first play-off round.
"I basically told (my team) I was proud to be their manager," said Torre. "They just kept fighting until someone told them it was over."
"They live by the home run and die by the home run, and they got us this time.
"Plus they pitched real well out of the bullpen. We couldn't get where we needed to go."
LA star Ramirez fired the Dodgers into the Championship Series with his displays since being traded from the Red Sox in July, but he will now become a free agent.
"(The Dodgers) are going to do what's best for them," Ramirez said. "(But) the fans here have received me with open arms."
