Burrell comes up big again

Manny Ramirez never moved, just watched it go.

Pat Burrell's sixth-inning shot landed just past the flower bed in left field, in the front row. Ramirez had no doubts about its resting place. Neither did Derek Lowe, cursing to himself, again. After leaving a pitch up to Chase Utley, the Dodgers' starter had left another up to Burrell. It was his last pitch of the game.

"Oh, yeah, they were up," Phillies batting coach Milt Thompson said in the clubhouse last night after the 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

"Tonight I'm facing a guy, he's a great pitcher, great sinker," Burrell said. "I'm not sure I've had a whole lot of success against him. And if I did, I don't remember. I really just told myself to grind it out. Stay in there on him. Make him throw some pitches. Make him work."

So Burrell's crazy Phillies ride continues. He's slumping. He's hitting. He's lunging. He's waiting . . . Fans tolerate him, are thankful for him, are patient with him, can live with seeing him go after this season . . .

All of that just this season, a microcosm of his career.

"I'm just glad they love him right now," Thompson said.

The odds were good that a leftfielder would provide last night's game-winning hit, and going into the sixth inning, Ramirez had it. His first-inning double was holding up.

Before the game, Phils manager Charlie Manuel had been asked about which team had edge in power. Manuel noted that the Dodgers had Ramirez but said, "I would give power to our team." Five games into the postseason, Burrell has three home runs. Ramirez actually had to hustle to keep Burrell to a single in the second inning.

"I think Pat is seeing the ball better," Manuel said afterward. "He's staying back, getting a better look at the ball. He's not getting out over his front side. And, like I said, his bat's quicker now."

The manager talked about the slumping late-season Burrell.

"He was getting out, striding too soon, getting out over his front side and just kind of swinging with his - just his upper body. What do I call it, somebody who swing swith his hands and arms. Right now, he's staying back behind the ball and driving the ball."

Dodgers manager Joe Torre knew Burrell was capable of hitting a pitch that was left up.

"Burrell's a good hitter; he's had a hell of a year," Torre said. "He just stayed with that pitch."

(philly.com)