L.A. dodges loss
LOS ANGELES – Andre Ethier drew a bases-loaded walk from J.A. Happ that capped a wacky, two-run rally in the eighth inning and sent the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 Friday to even the NL championship series at one game each.
The comeback came after the Phillies pulled Pedro Martinez, who allowed just two hits over seven shutout innings. The Dodgers cobbled together second baseman Chase Utley’s throwing error, a bunt, a single by pinch-hitter Jim Thome and two walks.
The Phillies wound up using five relievers in the eighth – Brad Lidge didn’t get into the game.
Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Hong-Chih Kuo got the victory on three pitches in two-thirds of an inning of relief. Jonathan Broxton pitched the ninth to earn the save.
The Dodgers were down 1-0 when Casey Blake opened the eighth with a single off the outstretched glove of third baseman Pedro Feliz. Ronnie Belliard’s bunt single got past Chan Ho Park and first baseman Ryan Howard.
Russell Martin followed with a grounder to Feliz, who made a good throw to Utley. But for the second straight game, Utley threw away the relay. This time, it allowed pinch-runner Juan Pierre to score the tying run from the second.
After Thome singled off Scott Eyre, Rafael Furcal drew a walk from Ryan Madson that loaded the bases. Happ struck out Matt Kemp, but the rookie walked Ethier on a full count.
Former Dodgers pitcher Park took the loss, giving up two runs and two hits in one-third of an inning.
For the second time in this year’s playoffs, a visiting team let a late lead slip away at Dodger Stadium. Last week, St. Louis left fielder Matt Holliday’s two-out error in the ninth doomed the Cardinals, who got swept by the Dodgers.
Howard’s homer in the fourth off Vicente Padilla accounted for the only run until the eighth.
The game began in 93-degree heat 16 hours after the Phillies won the series opener 8-6. The teams combined for 14 runs on 22 hits and 10 walks in that game, but offense was in short supply with Martinez and Padilla pitching.
It was a matchup of castoffs. An injury-plagued Martinez was let go by the Mets last season, while Padilla got dumped by Texas in August. He signed with the Dodgers two days later, excelled in their drive to a second consecutive NL West title and pitched well against St. Louis in the firstround.
Padilla allowed one run and four hits in 7 1-3 innings, struck out six and walked one. He exited to a standing ovation, tipping his cap as he walked off.
Martinez struck out three and walked none in seven innings of his first postseason appearance since Game 3 of the 2004 World Series with Boston. The three-time Cy Young winner, who turns 38 later this month, proved ageless in the stadium where he made his major league debut with the Dodgers in September 1992.
Replacing guile with gas, Martinez only gave up singles to Martin and Kemp before turning it over to Park.
Manny Ramirez went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, twice getting retired by good friend Martinez on weak popups.
