After the Phillies cruised to a 5-1 victory over the wild-card Rockies in game one behind a solid performance from postseason rookie starter Cliff Lee, Colorado edged out Philadelphia 5-4 in Game 2 to even the series, snapping the Phillies eight postseason game-winning streak and tagging World Series and NLCS MVP starter Cole Hamels for seven hits and four earned runs (including a solo homer) in just five innings on the mound.
Before Thursday’s win at Philadelphia, the Rockies had lost five consecutive postseason games, dating back to 2007, when the Red Sox swept them in the World Series. This was Colorado’s first win in the postseason since they completed a four-game sweep of the Diamondbacks in the 2007 NLCS.
The best-of-five series shifts to Coors Field for Game 2 on Saturday where the forecast calls for freezing drizzle and flurries possible with temperatures in the upper 20s and lower 30s during the game. The Rockies went 51-30 during the regular season at Coors Field, but lost one of two season series at home to the Phillies in early April.
Jason Hammel (10-8) will start for the Rockies against Pedro Martinez (5-1) as the Phillies try to become the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees won three World Series in a row from 1998-2000. No NL team has done it since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76. Hammel is 1-1 lifetime against the Phillies with an 8-3 win on Aug. 4 (6.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 6 K, 0 BB). Martinez has a career record of 10-9 against the Rockies but none of those in a Phillies uniform. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 29, throwing 130 pitches through seven innings against the Mets. However, his postseason experience has earned him the start
How important is a win in Game 3? Since wild-card play began in 1995, 11 best-of-five NL Division Series have been tied at 1-1 after two games. The winner of Game 3 has won nine of those series.
The odds makers are still behind the Phillies as the favorite in the Game 3 and the series.
Look for the Rockies to take a 2-1 lead in the series with a big win at home.
Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
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