Hamels struck out nine in a five-hitter, Chase Utley homered
and the Phillies beat the Reds 2-0 on Sunday night to finish off the
franchise's first playoff sweep.
Philadelphia, trying to become the first NL team in 66 years
to win three straight pennants, will host San Francisco or Atlanta in the NLCS
opener on Saturday.
Halladay opened this best-of-five series with the second
no-hitter in post-season history. Hamels ended it with another dominant
performance.
The Reds, making their first postseason appearance in 15
years, committed six errors in the last two games of the series after finishing
second in the NL with a club-record .988 fielding percentage during the regular
season.
The league's top offense managed only 11 hits in three games
- the fewest for a team in a postseason series, according to STATS LLC. The
previous low was 13 by Texas against the New York Yankees in 1998.
Hamels got Joey Votto to ground into a double play after
Brandon Phillips' leadoff single in the ninth, then struck out Scott Rolen to
end it. The 2008 World Series MVP threw 119 pitches and did not walk a batter
in his first postseason complete game.
Utley connected against Johnny Cueto in the fifth, giving
the Phillies a 2-0 lead with his club-record 10th postseason homer. A
first-inning throwing error by ailing shortstop Orlando Cabrera allowed
Philadelphia to score early.
At Atlanta, substitute second baseman
Brooks Conrad made his third error of the game in the ninth inning, allowing
San Franciscoto rally for a victory over Atlanta and a 2-1 lead in their NL
division series.
The Braves were within one out of taking control of the
best-of-five series, but a 30-year-old journeyman infielder who wouldn't have
been playing if not for season-ending injuries to Chipper Jones and Martin
Prado simply couldn't catch the ball.
Buster Posey's grounder went right under Conrad's glove; his
worst miscue yet in a performance that might speed up the retirement of Braves
manager Bobby Cox. Freddy Sanchez raced around with the go-ahead run, and Brian
Wilson shut down Atlanta in the ninth for the save.
San Francisco can close it out Monday night. For Conrad, the
memories of this one will linger for a lifetime. He tied a postseason record
for errors in a game and became the fourth second baseman to make three,
according to STATS LLC.
Pinch-hitter Eric Hinske lined a two-run homer off Sergio
Romo in the eighth, giving Atlanta a 2-1 lead after a stirring pitchers' duel
between Tim Hudson and Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez.
With the Braves missing injured closer Billy Wagner, Aubrey
Huff tied it in the ninth on a two-out single off Mike Dunn.
San Francisco scored first when Conrad dropped a
second-inning popup in short right field.
At Arlington, Texas, Evan Longoria
snapped out of his postseason slump with a homer and two doubles, and Carlos
Pena scored twice after a pair of extra-base hits of his own as Tampa Bay escaped
elimination again with a victory over Texas.
After losing the first two games of the AL division series
at home, the Rays won twice in Texas to force a deciding Game 5 at Tropicana
Field on Tuesday night. Postseason ace Cliff Lee will start for the Rangers
against 19-game winner David Price in a Game 1 rematch.
The winner hosts the New York Yankees in the AL championship
series opener Friday night.
Rookie right-hander Wade Davis pitched into the sixth,
getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth when he struck out Vladimir
Guerrero. Rafael Soriano worked a perfect ninth for the save.
Tampa Bay, which finished with the AL's top record in the
regular season, is trying to become the only team other than 2001 New York
Yankees to win a division series after losing the first two games at home.
Texas is still the lone current major league franchise
that's never won a postseason series. The Rangers are 0-6 in home playoff games.
Pena helped the Rays rally with two big hits Saturday. Add
in his first two at-bats Sunday and he hit for the cycle in a span of four
at-bats.
Nelson Cruz hit his third homer in four postseason games for
Texas.
