Power surge keys Phils
PHILADELPHIA — Now the Philadelphia Phillies can say the word they've avoided using all year: Repeat.
Jayson Werth homered twice, Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz also connected and the defending champions beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 in Game 5 on Wednesday night to win their second straight NL pennant.
Ryan Howard and crew dismantled the Dodgers, proving last year was no fluke. They're looking even more dangerous this time around.
"For what we did last year, that was something special," Howard said. "But to get back to this point, to have the opportunity to try to do it two years in a row, that's even more special."
Brad Lidge closed it out, Howard was selected NL championship series MVP and the Phillies became the first team to reach consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees in 2000-01.
After beating Tampa Bay in last year's World Series, the Phillies are trying to become the first repeat champions from the NL since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76. The Yankees were the last team to win consecutive titles when they captured three in a row from 1998-2000.
"I can get used to it," manager Charlie Manuel told a cheering crowd. "We got one more step and we're going to get it!"
The Phillies now wait for their next opponent. They'll go for their third World Series title beginning next Wednesday night either at New York or Los Angeles. The Yankees lead the Angels 3-1 in the ALCS, which resumes Thursday night at Angel Stadium.
Meanwhile, slugger Manny Ramirez, manager Joe Torre and the rest of the Dodgers go home after leading the NL with 95 wins in the regular season and sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the division series.
"They're confident, they're talented, and they're going where we all want to go right now — the World Series," Torre said, praising the power-hitting Phillies.
With a big night at the plate, Philadelphia overcame another shaky outing by 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP Cole Hamels. Los Angeles closed to 9-4 in the eighth, but Ryan Madson escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Russell Martin and retiring Casey Blake on a grounder.
Andre Ethier, James Loney and pinch-hitter Orlando Hudson hit solo homers for the Dodgers, who also lost to the Phillies in five games in last year's NLCS.
The teams combined to tie the record of seven homers in a postseason game — the fifth time that's happened.
"They were better than us," Ramirez said. "You saw what they were capable of doing."
Five pitchers tossed 4 2-3 strong innings in relief of an ineffective Hamels, who hasn't been the dominant ace he was last postseason. Chad Durbin earned the win by retiring all four batters he faced, including Ramirez representing the tying run in the fifth.
Hamels allowed three runs and five hits in 4 1-3 innings.
