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		Phillies take game one of NLCS By Daniel Dullum October 15, 2009
	Philadelphia Phillies' Raul Ibanez, left, is congratulated after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the National League Championship baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo)
	Philadelphia, powered by a pair of three-run homers form Carlos Ruiz and Raul Ibanez, sank the Dodgers 8-6 Thursday in the first game of the 2009 National League Championship Series at Los Angeles. Phillies starter Cole Hammels picked up the win, giving up four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Brad Lidge picked up the save for the Phillies, making him 3-for-3 in save opportunities this postseason. Lidge led the majors with 11 blown saves during the season. Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez hit a two-run home run, but also grounded into a double play that killed a Los Angeles rally in the eighth. James Loney also homered for the Dodgers. Ramirez’s homer was his 29th, a postseason record. Clayton Kershaw started for Los Angeles, but didn’t fare well. Kershaw, the youngest pitcher ever to start an LCS game (21 years, 211 days), was tagged for five runs in the fifth inning, when he set a LCS record for most wild pitches in an inning with three. Kershaw also tied the record for most wild pitches in a LCS game, now shared with Tommy John and Juan Guzman. On Friday, Pedro Martinez will start for Philadelphia against Vicente Padilla of LA. The American League Championship series between the Yankees and Angels begins Friday in New York.