Dodgers' Failure to Hang on Could Prove Costly

Brett Myers sat at his locker in the Phillies' victorious clubhouse, playing catch with his son Kolt, 3, as relaxed as can be.

If only the Dodgers had held on Thursday night, Myers might have been more anxious. If only the Dodgers had held on, they would be playing with "house money," as one of their veterans said afterward. But no.

Dodgers right-hander Derek Lowe inexplicably caved with a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning, giving up a two-run homer to Chase Utley following an error by shortstop Rafael Furcal, then a solo shot to Pat Burrell.

The Phillies went on to win Game One of the National League Championship Series, 3-2, getting seven strong innings from left-hander Cole Hamels, a scoreless, 10-pitch eighth from set-up man Ryan Madson, and a perfect 13-pitch ninth from closer Brad Lidge.

It was an opportunity lost for the Dodgers, nothing more. Myers is a wild card in Game Two, capable of pitching a one-hitter or getting chased in the second inning. Even if the Dodgers lose Friday, they will return to Dodger Stadium to face Phillies left-hander Jamie Moyer and right-hander Joe Blanton in Games Three and Four, respectively. Not exactly scary.

In the end, the Phillies may win this series, as one scout suggested this week, simply because they stand to play four games at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park and only three in pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium.

Rarely does a series present two such contrasting parks. Citizens Bank Park is practically a performance-enhancing drug for the Phillies, giving them the confidence that they can do just what they did in Game One, bash a couple of homers and be done with it. But Dodger Stadium all but shrinks sluggers such as Utley, Burrell, and Ryan Howard, shifting the psychological advantage to the pitchers.

Maybe the Dodgers' Game Two starter, right-hander Chad Billingsley, will succumb Friday to the same type of quick strike that undid Lowe, or maybe he will learn from his more veteran teammate's mistakes.

Lowe was typically honest afterward, saying he "knew better" than to throw a flat sinker over the plate on his first pitch to Utley. Shane Victorino was standing on second after Furcal's throwing error leading off the sixth. The raucous crowd was stirring. Lowe said he "pretty much knew" Utley would swing at the first pitch.

Utley's homer tied the score, and after Howard grounded out, Lowe fell behind Burrell, 3-1. Lowe said he wanted to avoid putting Burrell on base, mindful that walks often lead to trouble at CBP. Well, his pitch to Burrell tailed back over the plate, "not as high as Utley's," catcher Russell Martin said, "but not his best sinker."

Lowe seemed uncomfortable all night, one teammate said, talking to himself, distracted by odd things. His off-night was actually an off-inning, and he is easily forgiven after posting a 0.99 ERA in his previous 10 starts, including his victory over the Cubs in the Division Series.

Then again, Lowe could pitch twice more in this series, on short rest in Game Four, then normal rest in Game Seven, if necessary. The Dodgers will need better.

Hamels wasn't as dominant as he was in his eight shutout innings against the Brewers in the Division Series, but he steadied himself after allowing back-to-back, one-out doubles by Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez in the first. Still just 24, he has now worked 242-1/3 innings on the season, not bad for a pitcher who drew complaints as recently as six weeks ago that he wasn't enough of an ace.

Is that so?

To some degree, the pressure on Hamels in Game One was greater than it was on Lowe. If the Phillies had lost their opener at home, a poor start by Myers could have put them in a two-games-to-none deficit heading to Los Angeles.

Myers relishes big moments—that's why he loved being a closer—but perhaps no pitcher of his caliber is as unpredictable from start to start. The Dodgers need to continue the same patient approach they've used in the postseason and work to earn a split, knowing they were never likely to beat Hamels, anyway.

Whether the Dodgers win or lose on Friday, this thing is just getting started. Two evenly-matched teams. Two contrasting ballparks. Two different ways of playing the game.

This article originally published on FOXSports.com.

Read more of Ken's columns here.