Phils Advance to NLCS With a Show of Power
Phillies 6, Brewers 2

By Nancy Armour
Associated Press
Monday, October 6, 2008

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 5 -- With plenty of power to go with their improved pitching, the Philadelphia Phillies are ready for anything in the National League Championship Series.

Bring on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I like our chances," Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel said Sunday after Philadelphia clinched its first trip to the NLCS since 1993 with a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

"I think we can hold our own with them. Actually, I think we can beat anybody in the National League, really."

Especially if the Phillies keep playing this way.

Philadelphia's offense broke out in a big way against the Brewers in Game 4 of the best-of-five division series. Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a home run, Pat Burrell connected twice to break out of his postseason slump and Jayson Werth added a solo shot.

Midseason addition Joe Blanton threw a gem, holding the Brewers to one run after an eight-day layoff.

"That took a lot of pressure off of us," Rollins said of his home run. "We were up 1-0, regardless, no matter how the top of the first ended. On the other side, of course, it's going to put a little more pressure on you because their guys are thinking, 'Okay, well, we got to answer back.' "

The Brewers never could, and the Phillies rushed the mound at Miller Park after the final out, setting off a raucous celebration. In the clubhouse, the Phillies sprayed each other with champagne and beer, with Rollins wearing swimming goggles and a big grin as he searched for unsuspecting -- not to mention dry -- teammates.

Burrell was doused so many times it'll be days before his sweatshirt dries out, but he never stopped smiling.

"I couldn't be more thrilled. You know, I don't think it's actually sunk in all that much yet," said Burrell, who has been with the Phillies since they drafted him in 1998.

It will later this week, when the Phillies take on their old foe the Dodgers. Game 1 of the NLCS is Thursday in Philadelphia.

The Dodgers and Philadelphia have met for the NL pennant three times before. Los Angeles won in 1977 and '78; the Phillies took the flag in 1983.

During the regular season, the Phillies and Dodgers each swept a four-game series from the other at home. Philadelphia outscored Los Angeles, 43-27, in those eight matchups.

"It's going to be a good series, but I think we can score runs on them," Manuel said. "The way our guys pitch . . . I don't see no reason in the world why we can't stay right with them."

The wild-card Brewers, meanwhile, head for an offseason of uncertainty after their first playoff appearance in 26 years. Ace pitcher CC Sabathia, who almost single-handedly salvaged Milwaukee's postseason hopes, is a free agent and isn't expected back.

Ben Sheets, the team's second-best starter, might be gone, too.

Oh, and the Brewers need a manager after firing Ned Yost with 12 games left in the regular season. Dale Sveum took over on an interim basis.

"We did something we hadn't done for a long time. We have to build on this," said slugger Prince Fielder, who hadn't even been born the last time the Brewers made the playoffs. "I'm happy with the season. Just because we didn't win doesn't take away what we did."

Burrell, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard were a fearsome trio in the regular season for the Phillies, putting up the kind of numbers that make opposing pitchers shudder. Howard made a case for the NL MVP, leading the league in home runs (48) and RBI (146), and Utley and Burrell added 33 homers each.

But their bats were deafeningly silent in the first three games of the series, as Philadelphia rode outstanding outings by Cole Hamels and Brett Myers to take a 2-0 lead. The Big Three were 4 for 28 in the first three games, with Burrell going hitless.

The power outage was reminiscent of last year, when they went 5 for 27 while being swept by Colorado.

The Brewers had their own offensive worries, though Blanton can take credit for most of those. The burly right-hander, acquired in July from Oakland, hadn't pitched since Sept. 26 and was making only his second career postseason appearance. But he was in a groove from the minute he took the mound, thanks partly to Rollins's leadoff homer.

"Jimmy came out of the gates and really set the tone, gave us some momentum early," Blanton said. "Then later Pat came through with the big blow. That's huge. That really gives you a lot of confidence pitching."