LAS VEGAS, LOS ANGELES - After a very long day that started at home and wound its way through Nevada and then into California, I was not terribly confident the Phillies bullpen could get 11 outs before they allowed a run or more. More runs, of course, could render the thought moot.

Reliever George Sherrill had given up exactly two runs in 27 2/3 innings since the Dodgers got him from the Orioles. On a wild night when not a lot made a lot of sense, the Phillies got three runs in the eighth off Sherrill before he got an out. Raul Ibanez got the Phils' second three-run homer of the game, and what looked like white knuckle time turned into an 8-6 win in Game 1 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium.

Larry Bowa had it exactly right. The Phils went 0, 0, 0, 0, 5 and then 0, 0, 3. And that was too much for a Dodgers team that had seven really well-pitched innings and two innings when the Phillies lit them up.

The Phillies also got clutch relief pitching from Chan Ho Park, stifling the Dodgers for one inning, pitching for the first time since injuring his hamstring late in season.

"He must have been taking some good Korean ancient herbs [while injured]," said closer Brad Lidge. "He looked as good as he ever has."

Said Park: "Today was really exciting, because it's been a long time . . . I've been pitching mentally. I kept imagining myself pitching."

A very long day, indeed

 

They will then draw a bill out of the bag. The person in the seat number on the bill will get all the cash. My kind of action.

I consider dropping a few bills with 5D on them, but choose to play it straight. By the time they are done, $112 is collected. And they draw 18E.

It is an omen. After bypassing the slot machines in the Vegas airport and getting ready for the short flight to Burbank, we are informed that the flight is canceled.

"Maintenance," we are told.

The plane seemed fine when it got to the gate moments before the cancellation.

Not to be cynical, but I think the flight I am supposed to be on had very few people on it, so they figured they could cram everybody on the next one. So they do.

Why am I writing about airports? Well, our esteemed executive sports editor Josh Barnett told me he wanted me to write an early "Spin." How early?

Must be done by 9:45 p.m., which might get us to the fifth inning.

And we have enough people writing baseball anyway.

I migrate up the concourse from C-24 to C-4 for the next flight to Burbank, just 70 minutes later than the original. Not bad in the bizarro world of air travel. And the game doesn't start for 4 1/2 hours. I might be the first one there.

I go from A-20 boarding priority to B-50. So much for my $10 early-bird fee enabling me to get on at the start of the sequence.

While minding my own business next to the B-50 sign, I hear a voice behind me, disdainfully say: "Dodgers in 7."

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