| 2008 National League Division Series | |||||||||||||
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| Dates | October 1 – 4 | ||||||||||||
| Television | TBS | ||||||||||||
| TV announcers | Dick Stockton,Ron Darling,Tony Gwynn andTom Verducci | ||||||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | ||||||||||||
| Radio announcers | Jon Miller,Rick Sutcliffe | ||||||||||||
| Umpires | Dale Scott Paul Emmel Jeff Nelson Tom Hallion Gerry Davis Jim Reynolds | ||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||
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| Dates | October 1 – 5 | ||||||||||||
| Television | TBS | ||||||||||||
| TV announcers | Brian Anderson,Joe Simpson,John Smoltz, andDavid Aldridge | ||||||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | ||||||||||||
| Radio announcers | Michael Kay,Steve Phillips | ||||||||||||
| Umpires | Dana DeMuth Mark Wegner Brian Runge Fieldin Culbreth Jim Joyce Paul Nauert | ||||||||||||
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The2008National League Division Series (NLDS), the first round of theNational League side in Major League Baseball’s2008 postseason, began on Wednesday, October 1 and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions and onewild card team participating in two best-of-five series. They were:
The underdog Dodgers swept the Cubs to advance to theNLCS, while the Phillies defeated the Brewers three games to one. The series marked the first postseason series victory for the Dodgers since winning the1988 World Series, and the first such victory for the Phillies since the1993 NLCS.
The Phillies defeated the Dodgers for the National League championship, and went on to win the2008 World Series, defeating the American League championTampa Bay Rays in five games.
Los Angeles won the series, 3–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 1 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 7, Chicago Cubs – 2 | Wrigley Field | 3:10 | 42,099[2] |
| 2 | October 2 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 10, Chicago Cubs – 3 | Wrigley Field | 3:10 | 42,136[3] |
| 3 | October 4 | Chicago Cubs – 1,Los Angeles Dodgers – 3 | Dodger Stadium | 3:03 | 56,000[4] |
Philadelphia won the series, 3–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 1 | Milwaukee Brewers – 1,Philadelphia Phillies – 3 | Citizens Bank Park | 2:39 | 45,929[5] |
| 2 | October 2 | Milwaukee Brewers – 2,Philadelphia Phillies – 5 | Citizens Bank Park | 3:00 | 46,208[6] |
| 3 | October 4 | Philadelphia Phillies – 1,Milwaukee Brewers – 4 | Miller Park | 3:31 | 43,992[7] |
| 4 | October 5 | Philadelphia Phillies – 6, Milwaukee Brewers – 2 | Miller Park | 2:53 | 43,934[8] |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Derek Lowe (1–0) LP:Ryan Dempster (0–1) Home runs: LAD:James Loney (1),Manny Ramírez (1),Russell Martin (1) CHC:Mark DeRosa (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Dodgers swiped Game 1 from the Cubs at Wrigley Field.Mark DeRosa gave the Cubs an early lead in the second inning with an opposite-field two-run home run, butDerek Lowe settled in afterward by going six innings while three relievers held the Cubs scoreless over the last three innings.Ryan Dempster pitched four shutout innings, allowing two hits and four walks, but in the fifth, allowed three walks to load the bases for the Dodgers beforeJames Loney'sgrand slam put them ahead 4–2.Manny Ramírez's home run in the seventh offSean Marshall made it 5–2 Dodgers. Next inning,Blake DeWitt hit a leadoff double offJeff Samardzija and scored onCasey Blake's single. In the ninth,Russell Martin's lead off home run offJason Marquis made it 7–2 Dodgers.Greg Maddux pitched a scoreless bottom half as the Dodgers took a 1–0 series lead.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Los Angeles | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Chad Billingsley (1–0) LP:Carlos Zambrano (0–1) Home runs: LAD:Manny Ramírez (2) CHC: None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Dodgers struck first with a five-run second offCarlos Zambrano. After leadoff singles byAndre Ethier andJames Loney, two one-out errors allowed one run to score and load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout,Rafael Furcal's RBI single made it 2–0 Dodgers, thenRussell Martin cleared the bases with a double. All five runs scored were unearned.Manny Ramírez' second home run in the series in the fifth, his record-stretching 26th postseason dinger, extended the Dodgers' lead to 6–0. In the seventh, Ramirez walked off Zambrano, who was relieved byNeal Cotts. After a walk and forceout,Matt Kemp's RBI double made it 7–0 Dodgers.Chad Billingsley pitched6+2⁄3 innings, allowing one run in the seventh on back-to-back two-out doubles byMark DeRosa andJim Edmonds. In the eighth, RBI singles by Furcal and Ramirez offCarlos Marmol made it 9–1 Dodgers. Next inning,Juan Pierre reached second on a two-out error offKerry Wood, the Cubs' fourth of the game and one by each starting infielder, beforeCasey Blake's RBI single made it 10–1 Dodgers. In the bottom of the inning,Takashi Saito allowed a leadoff double and single before DeRosa's two-run double made it 10–3 Dodgers.Jonathan Broxton in relief walkedFelix Pie before retiring the next three batters to end the game and give the Dodgers a 2–0 series lead.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chicago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Hiroki Kuroda (1–0) LP:Rich Harden (0–1) Sv:Jonathan Broxton (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before a sellout crowd inDodger Stadium, Russell Martin doubled, then took third on a base hit by Manny Ramírez in the bottom of the first despite a risky baserunning move that almost killed the momentum. Replays showed Martin was out, but the third base umpire ruled it safe. James Loney then stroked a double to right field offRich Harden to score them both. Martin's RBI double after a walk in the fifth extended the Dodgers' lead to 3–0. It proved to be all the offense the Dodgers needed, asHiroki Kuroda was locked in, hurling shutout ball into the sixth; the first 11 outs he recorded were all ground ball outs before he struck out Rich Harden to end the fourth.Cory Wade gave up a run on a pinch-hitDaryle Ward single in the top of the eighth after a leadoff double byDerrek Lee, butJonathan Broxton took over and earned his first career postseasonsave by striking outAlfonso Soriano to complete the sweep. The Cubs suffered their ninth consecutive post-season loss and second consecutive sweep.
2008 NLDS(3–0):Los Angeles Dodgers overChicago Cubs
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Los Angeles Dodgers | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 26 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago Cubs | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 25 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 140,235 Average attendance: 46,745 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Milwaukee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Cole Hamels (1–0) LP:Yovani Gallardo (0–1) Sv:Brad Lidge (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phillies ace Cole Hamels pitched eight shutout innings of two-hit ball while striking out nine to give the Phillies their first playoff victory sinceGame 5 of the 1993 World Series. Yovani Gallardo gave up three runs, none earned, while walking five. All three runs came in the third onChase Utley's two-run double after a single and error byRickie Weeks, then three consecutive walks forced in another run. Brad Lidge got his first save of the postseason, allowing one run (onRyan Braun's double after aRay Durham single) and runners to advance to second and third with one out, before striking outPrince Fielder andCorey Hart to end the game.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Milwaukee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 9 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Brett Myers (1–0) LP:CC Sabathia (0–1) Sv:Brad Lidge (2) Home runs: MIL: None PHI:Shane Victorino (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A crowd of 46,208, the largest in the five-year history ofCitizens Bank Park, came out to watchBrett Myers pitch seven innings giving up two hits and two runs while striking out four and walking three to lead the Phillies to victory, giving them their first 2–0 playoff series lead since the1980 World Series against theKansas City Royals. The Brewers in the first loaded the bases with one out on a double and two walks. A walk toJ.J. Hardy forced in a run, butCorey Hart hit into an inning-ending double play.CC Sabathia pitched3+2⁄3 innings on three days' rest giving up all five runs in the second inning. Back-to-back one-out doubles byJayson Werth andPedro Feliz tied the game. Myers had the key AB for the Phillies as he stretched the AB from a 1–2 count into a walk. It unnerved Sabathia and, after another walk loaded the bases,Shane Victorino'sgrand slam gave the Phillies the lead. It was the first postseason grand slam in Phillies history. The Brewers scored one more run in the seventh when Hardy hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a fly out and scored onCraig Counsell's groundout.Ryan Braun's eighth inning single offRyan Madson was the Brewers' only other hit of the game. Brad Lidge retired the side in order in the ninth inning for his second save in as many games in the playoffs.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 4 | 11 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Dave Bush (1–0) LP:Jamie Moyer (0–1) Sv:Salomón Torres (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
With their backs against the proverbial wall, the Brewers sent outDave Bush to quiet the Phillies in the first ever postseason game at Miller Park. His offense picked him up early, however, taking some pressure off with two runs in the bottom of the first when two walks and a wild pitch byJamie Moyer put runners on second and third with one out, then a sacrifice fly byPrince Fielder, scoringMike Cameron, andJ.J. Hardy's RBI single gave the Brewers a 2–0 lead. Their struggling bullpen held the door closed after Bush's departure, giving up no runs in3+2⁄3 innings. The Brewers added to their lead in the fifth when Cameron was hit by a pitch byClay Condrey, moved to third on a single and scored onRyan Braun's sacrifice fly. The Phillies scored their only run of the game whenJayson Werth hit a leadoff triple off Bush and scored onRyan Howard's groundout offMitch Stetter. After failing to score with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, the Brewers increased their lead to 4–1 onJason Kendall's RBI single in the seventh offScott Eyre with two on. In the ninth,Salomón Torres gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases with nobody out, but induced a double play ball fromPedro Feliz that should have scored a run, but did not becauseShane Victorino did not slide into second base, and interference was called. Torres then retiredCarlos Ruiz to end the game, which made the Phillies the first team in MLB playoff history to load the bases with no outs in the ninth and not score, and the Brew Crew won their first postseason game sinceGame 5 of the 1982 World Series.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Joe Blanton (1–0) LP:Jeff Suppan (0–1) Home runs: PHI:Jimmy Rollins (1),Pat Burrell 2 (2),Jayson Werth (1) MIL:Prince Fielder (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brewers fans gotthundersticks as they entered Miller Park for Game 4, but the real thunder was supplied by the Phillies' bats, winning their first postseason series since the1993 NLCS withJimmy Rollins leading off the game on the sixth pitch offJeff Suppan with a solo home run, then in the third inning withPat Burrell (three-run) andJayson Werth (solo) hitting back-to-back home runs.Joe Blanton struck out seven batters in six innings while giving up five hits but only one run, which wasPrince Fielder's solo home run in the seventh. Burrell hit his second home run of the game in the eighth offGuillermo Mota. The Brewers got a run in the bottom half whenMike Cameron singled with one out offRyan Madson, moved to second on defensive indifference, and scored onRyan Braun's single, butBrad Lidge again pitched the final inning to close the game, although it was not a save situation as the Phillies advanced to the NLCS with a 6–2 win.
Burrell became only the second Phillies hitter in their history to hit two home runs in a playoff game, the other beingLenny Dykstra. He is also only the fifth National League player to hit two home runs in a series clinching game, joiningSteve Garvey (1974 NLCS),Johnny Bench (1976 World Series),Fred McGriff (1995 NLDS), andCarlos Beltrán (2004 NLDS).
2008 NLDS(3–1):Philadelphia Phillies overMilwaukee Brewers
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Phillies | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 32 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Milwaukee Brewers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 26 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 180,063 Average attendance: 45,016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
