2008 NLCS recap

This marked the 25th anniversary of the last postseason meeting between the Phillies and Dodgers, won by the "Wheeze Kids" at old Veterans Stadium. This series also marked the Phillies' first postseason victory of any kind at Citizens Bank Park, as they had been swept in the 2007 NLDS.

This series was a stark contrast to the simultaneous ALCS, where the Rays and Red Sox were breaking the LCS record for most home runs. Only nine combined were hit out in the NLCS, and two of them came from Manny Ramirez, who had found a new home -- but the same big stage -- with the Dodgers.

Cole Hamels provided the bookends for this series, winning Games 1 and 5, the latter clinching the Phillies' first pennant since 1993.

The Dodgers' only victory came in Game 3 at home, when they jumped all over starter Jamie Moyer for five runs in the first inning, going on to cut Philadelphia's series lead to 2-1. That game also was notable for a bench-clearing incident in the third inning.

In Game 4, the Dodgers had a 5-3 lead in the top of the eighth when Shane Victorino tied it with a two-run homer off reliever Cory Wade, and another two-run homer by pinch-hitter Matt Stairs off Jonathan Broxton that inning proved the game-winner.

Jimmy Rollins homered off Chad Billingsley in the first at-bat of the decisive fifth game at Dodger Stadium, and the Phillies never trailed in a 5-1 clincher. Hamels was too much for Los Angeles, improving his postseason record to 3-0 on the way to more success in the Fall Classic against Tampa Bay.

Brad Lidge saved three games for the Phillies, the same number he had recorded in helping Houston to the 2005 pennant. It marked his third NLCS closer role in a five-year span.

Path to the NLCS
NLDS: Philadelphia over Milwaukee (3 games to 1); Los Angeles over Chicago (3 games to 0)

Managers: Charlie Manuel, PHI; Joe Torre, LAD

MVP: Cole Hamels