The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the National League Division Series for the 13th time in as many years, continuing their push toward repeating as World Series champions after sweeping the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Series.
The Dodgers’ next test comes in the form of the No. 2 seeded Philadelphia Phillies, who won the season series by taking four of the six head-to-head meetings.
The two franchises have already faced each other a total of five times in postseason history, including back-to-back matchups from 1977-1978 and 2008-2009. Each of five playoff meetings came with the NL pennant on the line.
The Dodgers got off to a strong start by winning the first two pennants in 1977 and 1978, but the Phillies have had more recent success by taking the last three head-to-head matchups in October.
Phillies vs. Dodgers postseason history
1977 NLCS: Dodgers over Phillies (3-1)/h2>
The Dodgers put up a fight in Game 1, scoring five runs off Phillies starter and 1977 Cy Young Award winner Steve Carlton. He initially held the Dodgers’ offense to one run through 6.2 innings, but ran into trouble after walking Bill Russell and Reggie Smith to load the bases.
Ron Cey made the starter pay with a grand slam to tie the game heading into the eighth inning. However, the Phillies walked away with a narrow victory after scoring two runs in the top of the ninth.
Game 3 was the most consequential of the series, with the Dodgers scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 6-5 lead and ultimately stun the Phillies and take a 2-1 lead in the NL Championship Series.
Games 2 and 4 were dominated by Dodgers pitching and set the stage for comfortable victories.
Don Sutton went the distance in Game 2, scattering nine hits and allowing just one run. A four run inning in the bottom of the fourth provided plenty of cushion as the Dodgers won by a score of 7-1.
Game 4 was more of the same, as the Phillies could only muster one run on seven hits against starter Tommy John. He was the Game 1 starter and allowed four unearned runs in a shortened outing. John responded by throwing 130 pitches to record the Dodgers’ second complete game of the series.
L.A. built a 4–1 lead by the fifth inning and never looked back, punching their ticket to the World Series.
1978 NLCS: Dodgers over Phillies (3-1)/h2>
The Dodgers jumped out to a 2–0 series lead on the back of strong offense and starting pitching.
In Game 1, the Dodgers were powered by a combined five RBI from Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes, giving them an 8–4 lead after six innings. Garvey added his fourth RBI of the game with a solo home run in the top of the ninth and Bob Welch pitched the final 4.1 innings in relief as the Dodgers won 9-5.
John proved to be the Phillies’ kryptonite once again with a complete-game shutout in Game 2, this time only needing to throw 106 pitches. The Dodgers’ offense scratched across a handful of runs during the middle innings, which was good enough for a 4-0 victory.
The Phillies responded in Game 3 by scoring seven runs (four earned) off Sutton. With his team’s back against the wall, Carlton withstood eight hits and two walks to throw a complete game in the Phillies’ 9–4 win.
Philadelphia tried to stave off elimination again in a tightly contested Game 4, but the Dodgers pulled out a dramatic 4–3 win in extra innings to advance to the World Series.
With two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Dusty Baker hit a soft line drive to center field that should have been the third out, but he reached on an error. Russell stepped up to the plate and ensured that mistake ended the Phillies’ season, singling home Cey from second base for the win.
1983 NLCS: Phillies over Dodgers (3-1)/h2>
It would be five years before the two teams met in October again. To this point, the Dodgers somewhat had Carlton’s number in the postseason. The Hall of Fame right-hander had allowed 13 runs in 20.2 innings against Los Angeles.
But this was the year he flipped the script. Carlton and Al Holland combined to shut out the Dodgers’ offense in Game 1. On the other side, Jerry Reuss was just as impressive, throwing eight innings of one-run ball. A first-inning home run from Mike Schmidt was the difference as the Phillies took Game 1.
The Dodgers bounced back to win Game 2 thanks to a two-out triple from Pedro Guerrero that drove in two runs to make it a 3-1 ballgame. Fernando Valenzuela and Tom Niedenfuer took care of business on the mound for a 4-1 victory.
Games 3 and 4 each ended the same way, with a 7-2 Phillies win. Pitching with a five-run lead, Charles Hudson went the distance in Game 3 and limited the Dodgers to just four hits.
Carlton continued his redemption arc against the Dodgers with another good outing in Game 4. The Dodgers had plenty of chances to get back in the game, but were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.
2008 NLCS: Phillies over Dodgers (4-1)/h2>
Seven strong innings from Cole Hamels and a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning helped the Phillies overcome an early 2-0 deficit. Philadelphia took Game 1 by a score of 3-2.
A three-run home run from Manny Ramirez was not enough to dig the Dodgers out of the hole created by the Phillies scoring eight runs off Chad Billingsley in 2.1 innings. After 13 runs were scored in the first four innings, both offenses were held scoreless the rest of the way. Game 2 ended with the Phillies winning 8-5.
Fast starts were not a problem for the Dodgers in the 2008 NLCS, as they put up a five spot in the first inning of Game 3. The pitching staff was able to protect the early lead as the Dodgers won 7-2.
Pitching was the Dodgers’ undoing in Game 4. L.A. had a 5-3 lead entering the top of the eighth inning, but Philadelphia scored four runs to take a 7-5 lead that ended up being the final result.
Tasked with facing with Hamels in Game 5, the Dodgers offense was held in check. The left-hander was the only pitcher Los Angeles couldn’t figure out, as he limited them to just three runs in his starts.
The Dodgers averaged nearly six runs in the other three games. Philadelphia enjoyed a 5-1 win in Game 5 and advanced to the World Series.
2009 NLCS: Phillies over Dodgers (4-1)/h2>
The Dodgers were able to somewhat conquer their demons in the first game of the 2009 NLCS, scoring four runs off Hamels and forcing him from the game after 5.1 innings of work. The problem was that Philadelphia put together a five-run inning against Clayton Kershaw.
The Phillies’ offense added three more insurance runs and utilized six different relievers to close out an 8-6 win.
Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning Game 2 but Vicente Padilla and Hung-Chih Kuo kept the Dodgers in the game long enough for the offense to rally for two runs in bottom of the eighth.
Jonathan Broxton entered the game in the top of the ninth and retired the side in order to secure a much needed 2-1 win for L.A.
Game 3 was a no-contest win for the Phillies, who scored 11 runs on 11 hits and shut out the Dodgers. Philadelphia took a 2-1 series lead at that point
Any chances for the Dodgers to come back in the series ended with Game 4. Los Angeles held a slim 4–3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth and was one out away from evening the series at two games apiece.
Broxton was asked to record one extra out to record the save after being brought into the game to escape an eighth-inning jam. He fell one out short, as Jimmy Rollins doubled home two runs for the 5–4 walk-off win. Instead of turning the series into a best-of-three, the Dodgers found themselves in a 3–1 hole.
Facing a familiar foe in Game 5, the Dodgers were able to put some pressure on Hamels once again. They pushed across three runs in 4.1 innings, but it was a moot point with the Phillies scoring six in the same span.
Philadelphia held L.A. to one run over the final four innings while adding four of their own, cruising to a 10–4 win and a second-straight trip to the World Series.
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