That's because lefthander Scott Kazmir continued his postseason struggles at the start of games. Kazmir was the losing pitcher as the Phillies took Game 1 of the World Series, 3-2.

The Phils jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Chase Utley hit a 92-m.p.h. fastball on a 2-2 count for a two-run home run.

"I made one bad mistake, a fastball to Utley," Kazmir said. "I wanted it to be away, and it ended up being middle-in. That is where he likes the ball; it's a mistake and it cost me."

That inning seemed to take some of the starch out of the sellout crow of 40,783. The Tropicana dome wasn't anywhere near as loud as it had been for the Rays' 3-1 win Sunday over Boston in the decisive Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

In three of four postseason starts this season, Kazmir has allowed two runs in the first inning.

"They really have been tough," Kazmir said about his first innings. "It seems like everything is going good, and I make that one mistake and it costs me."

Kazmir's trouble is that he often tries to get the opponent to swing at bad pitches. It's hard to call a lefthander with a 92-m.p.h. fastball a nibbler, but he doesn't always challenge hitters.

Kazmir has surrendered four home runs in 212/3 postseason innings. Even more troubling for the Rays is his high pitch count.

Kazmir lasted just six innings last night in what has become a typical postseason outing for the 24-year-old lefthander. He allowed three runs, all earned, giving up six hits, striking out four, and walking four. Kazmir threw 110 pitches, 73 for strikes.

He hasn't pitched more than six innings in any of his four postseason outings and is averaging 104.25 pitches. Still, Kazmir was praised by his teammates.

"He pitched a great game," catcher Dioner Navarro said. "The home run by Utley was about it, and they got a bloop single here and there, but he got out of jams good and we are really pleased with the job he did."

After the first inning, Kazmir appeared to settle down, although his night would have been worse had centerfielder B.J. Upton not nailed Shane Victorino on Jimmy Rollins' lineout double play to end the second inning.

Kazmir allowed a fourth-inning run on a Carlos Ruiz groundout, and he didn't have a single 1-2-3 inning.

"It wasn't easy tonight, and I felt like I had to battle every single inning," Kazmir said.

And to think that he was the winning pitcher in the All-Star Game, giving the American League home-field advantage in this World Series.

He needed only one bad first inning to surrender that advantage to the Phillies.