2008 National League Division Series

2008 National League Division Series
2008 National League Division Series
Teams
Team (Wins)
Team (Wins)
Los Angeles Dodgers (3)
Chicago Cubs (0)
Dates	October 1 – 4
Television	TBS
TV announcers	Dick Stockton, Ron Darling, Tony Gwynn and Tom Verducci
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Jon Miller, Rick Sutcliffe
Umpires	Dale Scott; Paul Emmel; Jeff Nelson; Tom Hallion; Gerry Davis; Jim Reynolds
Teams
Team (Wins)
Team (Wins)
Philadelphia Phillies (3)
Milwaukee Brewers (1)
Dates	October 1 – 5
Television	Brian Anderson, Joe Simpson, John Smoltz, and David Aldridge
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Michael Kay, Steve Phillips
Umpires	Dana DeMuth; Mark Wegner; Brian Runge; Fieldin Culbreth; Jim Joyce; Paul Nauert

The 2008 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2008 National League playoffs, began on Wednesday, October 1 and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions and one wild card team participating in two best-of-five series. They were:

(1) Chicago Cubs (Central Division champions, 97–64) vs. (3) Los Angeles Dodgers (Western Division champions, 84–78): Dodgers win series, 3–0.
(2) Philadelphia Phillies (Eastern Division champions, 92–70) vs. (4) Milwaukee Brewers (Wild Card qualifier, 90–72): Phillies win series, 3–1.^[1]

The underdog Dodgers swept the Cubs to advance to the NLCS, while the Phillies defeated the Brewers three games to one. The series marked the first postseason series victory for the Dodgers since winning the 1988 World Series, and the first such victory for the Phillies since the 1993 NLCS.

The Phillies defeated the Dodgers for the National League championship, and went on to win the 2008 World Series, defeating the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays in five games.

Matchups

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

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 Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers

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]

Chicago vs. Los Angeles

Game 1

October 1, 2008 5:38 pm (
Chicago, Illinois
56 °F (13 °C), mostly cloudy
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
Manny Ramírez (1), Russell Martin (1) CHC: Mark DeRosa (1)

The Dodgers swiped Game 1 from the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Manny Ramírez's home run in the seventh off Sean Marshall made it 5–2 Dodgers. Next inning, Blake DeWitt hit a leadoff double off Jeff Samardzija and scored on Casey Blake's single. In the ninth, Russell Martin's lead off home run off Jason Marquis made it 7–2 Dodgers. Greg Maddux

pitched a scoreless bottom half as the Dodgers took a 1–0 series lead.

Game 2

October 2, 2008 8:37 pm (
Chicago, Illinois
59 °F (15 °C), mostly cloudy
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
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
Manny Ramírez (2) CHC: None

The Dodgers struck first with a five-run second off

Felix Pie

before retiring the next three batters to end the game and give the Dodgers a 2–0 series lead.

Game 3

October 4, 2008 7:07 pm (
Los Angeles, California
64 °F (18 °C), cloudy
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
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 in Dodger 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 off Rich 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, as Hiroki 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-hit Daryle Ward single in the top of the eighth after a leadoff double by Derrek Lee, but Jonathan Broxton took over and earned his first career postseason save by striking out Alfonso Soriano to complete the sweep. The Cubs suffered their ninth consecutive post-season loss and second consecutive sweep.

Composite box

2008 NLDS (3–0): Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago Cubs


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
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

Philadelphia vs. Milwaukee

Game 1

October 1, 2008 3:07 pm (
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
70 °F (21 °C), showers
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
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 since

Rickie Weeks, then three consecutive walks forced in another run. Brad Lidge got his first save of the postseason, allowing one run (on Ryan Braun's double after a Ray Durham single) and runners to advance to second and third with one out, before striking out Prince Fielder and Corey Hart

to end the game.

Game 2

October 2, 2008 6:08 pm (
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
60 °F (16 °C), partly cloudy
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
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 of

J.J. Hardy forced in a run, but Corey Hart hit into an inning-ending double play. CC Sabathia pitched 32⁄3 innings on three days' rest giving up all five runs in the second inning. Back-to-back one-out doubles by Jayson Werth and Pedro 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's grand 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 on Craig Counsell's groundout. Ryan Braun's eighth inning single off Ryan 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.

Game 3

October 4, 2008 5:38 pm (
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
65 °F (18 °C), roof closed
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 out

J.J. Hardy's RBI single made it 2–0 Brewers. Their struggling bullpen held the door closed after Bush's departure, giving up no runs in 32⁄3 innings. The Brewers added to their lead in the fifth when Cameron was hit by a pitch by Clay Condrey, moved to third on a single and scored on Ryan Braun's sacrifice fly. The Phillies scored their only run of the game when Jayson Werth hit a leadoff triple off Dave Bush and scored on Ryan Howard's groundout off Mitch Stetter. After failing to score with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, the Brewers tacked onto their lead on Jason Kendall's RBI single in the seventh off Scott Eyre with two on. Salomón Torres was in a jam in the ninth, with the bases loaded and nobody out, but a double play that should've scored a run didn't because Shane Victorino did not slide into second base, and interference was called. Torres pitched out of the jam, and the Brew Crew won their first post-season game since Game 5 of the 1982 World Series

.

Game 4

October 5, 2008 12:07 pm (
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
66 °F (19 °C), roof closed
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 got thundersticks as they entered Miller Park for Game 4, but the real thunder was supplied by the Phillies' bats, winning their first post-season series since the 1993 NLCS with Jimmy Rollins leading off the game on the sixth pitch off Jeff Suppan with a solo home run, then in the third inning with Pat Burrell (three-run) and Jayson Werth (solo) hitting back-to-back home runs. Joe Blanton struck out seven in six innings of one-run, five hit ball, the only run coming in the seventh on Prince Fielder's home run. Burrell hit his second home run of the game in the eighth off Guillermo Mota. The Brewers got a run in the bottom half when Mike Cameron singled with one out off Ryan Madson, moved to second on defensive indifference and scored on Ryan Braun's single, but Brad 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 being Lenny Dykstra. He is also only the fifth National League player to hit two home runs in a series clinching game, joining Steve Garvey (1974 NLCS), Johnny Bench (1976 World Series), Fred McGriff (1995 NLDS), and Carlos Beltrán (2004 NLDS).

Composite box

2008 NLDS (3–1): Philadelphia Phillies over Milwaukee 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

References

^ The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage, which was determined by playing record. Although the team with the best record was normally intended to play the wild card team, the Cubs played the Dodgers, rather than the wild card Brewers, because the Cubs and Brewers are in the same division.
^ "2008 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
^ "2008 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
^ "2008 NLDS - Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
^ "2008 NLDS - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
^ "2008 NLDS - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
^ "2008 NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
^ "2008 NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

External links

[1] The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage, which was determined by playing record. Although the team with the best record was normally intended to play the wild card team, the Cubs played the Dodgers, rather than the wild card Brewers, because the Cubs and Brewers are in the same division.

[Game1-1-2] "2008 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

[Game1-2-3] "2008 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

[Game1-3-4] "2008 NLDS - Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

[Game2-1-5] "2008 NLDS - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

[Game2-2-6] "2008 NLDS - Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

[Game2-3-7] "2008 NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

[Game2-4-8] "2008 NLDS - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers - Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

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