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Phils-Dodgers game 5 live from the press box--Part II
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Home Run Derby, the 2009 edition, continues at Citizen's Bank Park, with Pedro Felix teeing off on Padilla's first pitch and lining it out of the park to right, restoring the Phils' two-run lead, 4-2. The Dodgers' bullpen immediately swings into the action, with Clayton Kershaw, the Game 1 starter who would likely go in Game 6 Friday should the series return to L.A. along with righthander Chad Billingsley, who pitched 3 1/3 innings Monday night.
But Padilla settles down to get the next three hitters and keep it 4-2 after two.
Hamels, too, starts to find his comfort level, fanning Ethier to end a 1-2-3 top of the third.
A perfect inning in the bottom half for Padilla, who seemed on the verge of being lifted not long ago, Phils up 4-2 after 3.
Hamels gets through the fourth, but a tight strike zone and Russell Martin fouling off a bunch of pitches continue to push his pitch count up. He finally gets Martin to pop to Utley, but is already up to 76 pitches. Looks like the bullpen will have to work at least two innings minimum--probably more.
The bottom of the fourth starts with a sharp single to left by Werth, followed by a Raul Ibanez;' gapper--similar to the one Jimmy Rollins hit that broke up the ballgame Monday--bringing him around to make it 5-2 and finish the night for Padilla. Ramon Troncoso gets the call from the bullpen.
Eventually, the Phils load the bases with two out on a walk, Hamels' sacrifice and hit batter. Desperate to get out of the inning without further damage, Joe Torre call on his usual setup man, lefthander George Sherrill, to face Shane Victorino. The strategy fails when Sherrill plunks the Flyin;' Hawaiian with a 3-2 pitch, forcing home a run to make it 6-2.
That brings up Utley, whose first-inning walk enabled him tie a major league record of reaching base in 22 straight post-season games. He strikes out looking to end the inning.
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