PHILADELPHIA (AP)—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.
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 win over Milwaukee in their playoff opener Wednesday.
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 can’t let him get a hit there,” said Lidge, who was 41-for-41 in save chances this season. “I’ve always been a strikeout pitcher and that’s what I wanted to do.”
Game 2 in the best-of-five series is Thursday, with ace CC Sabathia going to the mound for the wild-card Brewers on three days’ rest for the fourth consecutive start. Brett Myers pitches for the Phillies.
It’ll be tough for anyone to match Hamels’ superb performance. The 24-year-old lefty retired the first 14 batters and allowed two hits, striking out nine.
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