PHILADELPHIA — Cole Hamels was so dominant, the Milwaukee Brewers were glad to see Brad Lidge come in. The switch to their perfect closer nearly cost the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.
Behind their top two arms, the Phillies grabbed their first postseason victory in 15 years — barely.
Hamels pitched eight brilliant innings, Lidge escaped a ninth-inning jam and Philadelphia took advantage of Mike Cameron’s miscue in center field for a 3-1 victory over Milwaukee in their playoff opener.
Chase Utley’s two-run double slipped out of Cameron’s glove in the third, helping the Phillies take a 3-0 lead. Lidge allowed a run in the ninth but struck out Corey Hart with runners at second and third to end it.
“I’ve always been a strikeout pitcher and that’s what I wanted to do,” Lidge said.
Hamels retired the first 14 batters and allowed two hits, striking out nine.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel considered sending the left-hander out to start the ninth, but decided to go with Lidge. The Brewers got the tying run to the plate, but Prince Fielder fanned for the second out. After J.J. Hardy walked to put two runners on, they advanced on a wild pitch. Then Hart struck out swinging to end it.
“Not too many times you can say you’re happy to see Lidge, but we didn’t hit the ball hard off Hamels all day,” Brewers manager Dale Sveum said.
The Phillies were swept out of the first round by the Rockies last year. Hamels lost the opener of that series, but didn’t have jitters this time around.
“I learned what it really takes in trying to kind of mellow out, not have that sort of excitement where you can’t really control everything,” he said.
Phillies lead 1-0
Game 1 Wednesday, @ Philadelphia
Philadelphia 3, Milwaukee 1
Game 2 Today, 4:07 p.m. @ Philadelphia Brewers’ CC Sabathia 17-10, 2.70 Phillies’ Brett Myers 10-13, 4.55
Game 3 Saturday, 4:37 p.m. @ Milwaukee Phillies’ Jamie Moyer 16-7, 3.71 Brewers’ Jeff Suppan 10-10, 4.96
Game 4 Sunday, TBA, if nec. @ Milwaukee Phillies’ Joe Blanton 9-12, 4.69 Brewers’ Dave Bush 9-10, 4.18
Game 5 Tuesday, TBA, if nec. @ Philadelphia Brewers’ TBA Phillies’ Cole Hamels 1-0, 0.00*
*NLDS
