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| Broxton stares as Rollins hits the game-winning run [GALLO/GETTY] |
The Philadelphia Phillies went within one game of defending their World Series title with a dramatic 5-4 win over the LA Dodgers in the National League Championship – putting them 3-1 up in the series.
Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run, two-out double in the ninth inning to seal victory in Philadelphia.
Teammate Ryan Howard also hit a two-run, first inning homer to tied Lou Gehrig's 78-year record for the most consecutive runs-batted-in in postseason games.
The defending champions can seal the best-of-seven series and return to the World Series with one more victory at home in Game Five on Wednesday.
Under pressure
"This is big. The pressure is all on them," Rollins said on Monday.
"We wanted this. We needed this to put the pressure on them at our place.
"We didn't want to go back to LA and give them back the home field advantage if we can avoid it."
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| Ruiz slides home [GALLO/GETTY] |
The Dodgers, who were routed by the Phillies 11-0 on Sunday, appeared ready to even the series before Rollins' drive to right centre field scored Eric Bruntlett and Carlos Ruiz.
"It's a very tough lineup to go through. You try to be careful," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.
"Our mind-set is playing one game at a time. In the postseason, you think you can win three games in a row."
The Dodgers bullpen held the Phillies hitless for more than two innings on Monday before finally running into trouble.
Jonathan Broxton, the fourth Los Angeles reliever, walked Matt Stairs, who was replaced by pinch-runner Bruntlett.
Broxton then hit Carlos Ruiz to give Philadelphia runners on first and second with one out.
Hard-throwing
Greg Dobbs lined out to third to bring the Dodgers within one out of victory but on the hard-throwing Broxton's third pitch to Rollins, Philadelphia's fifth batter of the inning hit a fastball into the gap in right centre.
"I've faced him a number of times and I have always found a way to put the bell on the ball but it is usually a fly ball (out)," Rollins said.
"I was saying all you have to do is catch the ball in the air. I don't need a home run."
Howard's homer tied Gehrig as the only players to record an RBI in eight consecutive postseason games.
Gehrig's streak came during playoffs spanning 1928-32.
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