Less than 24 hours after the Phillies Game 1 conquest over the Dodgers, the two teams take to the field again for a pivotal Game 2. If Philly advances the series to 2-0, talk of a second straight World Series appearance will only intensify. Coincidentally, if the Dodgers can even the series, the painful images of last night will become a distant memory. Joe Torre sends Vincente Padilla to the mound tonight. From True Blue LA:
Pitching Matchup the Focus for Game 2
The Dodgers are hoping Vicente Padilla continues his groove. In his last 14 innings, he has allowed one run on eight hits and two walks while striking out 17. Since joining the Dodgers, Padilla has thrown 46.1 innings, including the playoffs, and has a 2.72 ERA and 3.02 FIP. Call me crazy, but I think the Dodgers today get what they have been longing for for quite a long time: a win in a playoff game started by Pedro Martinez at Dodger Stadium.The move to start the 37-year-old Martinez, considered a gamble by some, isn’t too much of a risk, at least according to Rich Hoffman of the Philadelphia Daily News:
It will be great drama, a fine show, as Martinez comes home to where he started, to Dodger Stadium, and attempts to shake off a topcoat of rust on the game’s biggest stage. And now I guess it isn’t such a big deal -- because if it blows up, or he blows up, well, they did already win Game 1.The Good Phight, obviously feeling good about last night’s victory, had one worry about the game. The announcers.
Buck Martinez has a horrible voice. Ron Darling sounds like Robert deNiro (seriously). And, as someone pointed out somewhere, Chip Caray talks about fisting a whole lot. Collectively, the three of them were Dodgers’ groupies. When the Dodgers were at bat, it was all about how much the Dodgers have grown this year and how the Dodgers’ young hitters have learned how to hit and win without Manny Ramirez in the lineup. When the Phillies were at bat, it was all about the Dodgers’ pitching staff.First pitch for Martinez v. Padilla is slated for 1:07 Pacific Time. That’s 4:07 for us EST folks.
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