Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Cole Hamels hurled eight shutout innings as Philadelphia downed Milwaukee, 3-1, in Game 1 of their National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park.
Hamels (1-0) used great location and a dominating change-up to keep an undisciplined Brewers lineup off-balance throughout. He allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out nine batters. The left-hander retired the first 14 batters he faced before Corey Hart lined a clean single to right with two outs in the fifth inning.
"Obviously his power changeup is as good as there is in baseball from any left-hander," Brewers manager Dave Sveum said. "And he had a pretty decent breaking ball, even though he didn't throw it a lot, but it's probably the best breaking ball we've seen in a while from what we've seen in our scouting reports and stuff. But, I mean, that changeup is as good as I've seen before and obviously he had everything working today."
Phillies closer Brad Lidge struggled mightily in the ninth, however, and surrendered a run before allowing the tying runs to reach second and third with two outs. The flame-thrower then fanned Hart to end the contest.
Chase Utley had a two-run double for the Phillies, who managed just four hits but won their first postseason game since 1993.
"A lot of times in post-season it's about pitching," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "The pitchers, they're really bearing down and they're focused and they're concentrating on what they want to do. That's what happens sometimes. Hitters, they might be a little tight and anxious. And they don't put the runs across the board they usually can do."
Philadelphia was swept in the Division Series last year by the eventual NL champion Colorado Rockies and are making consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 1980 and '81.
The Brewers were playing postseason baseball for the first time since winning the American League pennant in 1982.
Milwaukee pitcher Yovani Gallardo (0-1) became the first pitcher in major league history to start Game 1 of the postseason for his team after appearing in less then 10 games during the regular season.
The 22-year-old right-hander was making just his second appearance since ACL surgery in May and was let down by his defense. Gallardo, who was on a strict pitch count, lasted just four innings and allowed three unearned runs on three hits while walking five and striking out three.
"Besides the walks, I think he had decent stuff," Sveum said. "He felt pretty strong. That young man battled and did a fine job for us and kept us in the ball game."
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is set for Thursday in Philadelphia with the Phillies' Brett Myers toeing the rubber against Milwaukee ace CC Sabathia.
The Phillies jumped on top with three runs in the third thanks to some shoddy Milwaukee defense. Carlos Ruiz led off the frame with a single up the middle and Hamels followed by laying down a bunt to try and advance the catcher. Bill Hall bobbled the ball but still made a solid throw in plenty of time to get Hamels. Rickie Weeks, couldn't handle the throw, however, and Philadelphia had runners on at first and second for the top of its order.
Gallardo flirted with getting out of the trouble by getting Jimmy Rollins on a pop up to left and fanning Jayson Werth. But, Utley followed with a hard hit ball to center that Mike Cameron flubbed, enabling both runners to score. Normally a superb fielder, Cameron took a bad path to the ball in windy conditions and had to lunge to make the catch. The ball went in-and-out of his glove and Utley was credited with a two-run double.
"If it isn't caught, nobody can not catch it except Mike Cameron," Sveum said. "So I never question anything he does in center field. He's as good a center fielder as I've ever been around in my 27 years in the game."
The play seemed to rattle Gallardo and, after intentionally walking the dangerous Ryan Howard, the young starter walked Pat Burrell and Shane Victorino to force in another run and make it a 3-0 game.
The Brewers best scoring chance off Hamels was in the sixth when Craig Counsell slapped a one-out single up the middle and Cameron followed by drawing a walk. Hamels settled down from there, punching out Hall and then getting Ryan Braun to pop out to end the inning.
Hamels hit the 100-pitch mark after the eighth inning and the Phillies went to Lidge in the ninth, opening the door for the Brewers. The closer managed to fan Cameron looking but pinch-hitter Ray Durham singled to right and came around to score when Braun sliced a double down the right field line and Utley dropped the relay throw. Prince Fielder followed by striking out, but J.J. Hardy walked and both runners then advanced into scoring position when Lidge uncorked a wild pitch.
Hart stepped to the plate with an opportunity to deadlock things with a single but struck out swinging to end the game.
"I have all the confidence in the world in Lidge," Hamels said. "I knew it was something where I knew if I could get through the eighth, I knew Lidge could seal the deal. That's something where I wanted to get him a save and I know he wanted to get me a win, and we were able to do that."
Game Notes
The Phillies also won five of the six regular season meetings between the two clubs...Philadelphia's last previous postseason win was a 2-0 victory over Toronto on October 21, 1993...The Brewers last postseason win was against St. Louis on October 17, 1982 in Game 5 of the World Series...Phils outfielder Pat Burrell was in the lineup a day after he left batting practice with back discomfort. He went 0-for-2 with a walk.
