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Rollins, Hamels Lead Phils Into World Series

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The Associated Press

Published: October 16, 2008

Updated: 10/16/2008 12:12 am

LOS ANGELES - Jimmy Rollins got the Phillies rollin' with a leadoff homer and they kept right on going. Next stop, the World Series.

Rollins homered in the first inning, Cole Hamels pitched his third gem of the playoffs and Philadelphia beat the bumbling Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 Wednesday night to win the NL Championship Series 4-1 for its first pennant since 1993.

The NL East champions - the losingest team in pro sports history - took advantage of three errors by shortstop Rafael Furcal in the fifth inning and shrugged off another home run by Manny Ramirez.

Now, the Phillies go for their second World Series title beginning Wednesday night at Tampa Bay or Boston. The Rays lead the Red Sox 3-1 in the ALCS, which resumes tonight at Fenway Park.

Brad Lidge closed it out for the Phillies, who won their lone championship in 1980 by beating Kansas City in six games. They also reached the World Series in 1915, 1950, 1983 and 1993, when they lost to Toronto in six games on Joe Carter's ninth-inning homer off Mitch Williams.

Now they're headed back, carrying the hopes of a title-starved city that hasn't had a title to celebrate since the NBA's 76ers won it all in 1983.

Ramirez homered in the sixth to end Hamels' shutout bid in what might have been his final game with L.A. The slugging left fielder, who hit .520 with four homers, 10 RBIs and 11 walks in eight playoff games, can become a free agent after the World Series.

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