Sports Thread #1 For 10/15/09: 2009 NLCS- Park Clutch In Relief As Phillies Take The Opener
Photo from Getty Images' Stephen DunnComing into this series, despite the confidence they got in the Rockies series, the Phillies bullpen was still viewed as inferior to the team they beat last year at this ultimate National League stage. But after tonight, that belief maybe altered.
Possibly lost in all the offense explosion in this game, Chan Ho Park was arguably the MVP of this game. He was just so clutch in that 7th inning and was the difference for me in this game.
Clayton Kershaw lost focus after dominating the first 4 innings, giving up a big three run home run to Carlos Ruiz, and then a two out double to Ryan Howard to knock him out of the ball game.
Cole Hamels though was no better in the 5th either. His three run homer at the hands of Manny Ramirez signaled that Cliff Lee and not Hamels right now is the ace of this staff. His change up is not as dominant as it was last year, and there will be questions going into his next start in this series if he can turn it around.
But nevertheless, it is the Dodgers who will need to turn it around tomorrow. Going down 2-0 isn't the end of the world. But to go down 2-0 after the first two games on your home field, against the team that beat you last year, is a massive hole to get out of.
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