Phillies expected retaliation from Dodgers

By MARCUS HAYES
Philadelphia Daily News

hayesm@phillynews.com

They knew it was coming.

They just didn't like how it came.

The Phillies figured the Dodgers would start firing at their hitters. After all, excitable Game 2 starter Brett Myers threw high and tight to Dodgers star Manny Ramirez, then behind Ramirez. The Dodgers never got around to retaliating.

So, before Game 3, some Phillies discussed the likelihood that starter Hiroki Kuroda would come after them.

Surely, the concern mounted after Jamie Moyer plunked Dodgers catcher Russell Martin on the most precious of catchers' joints - his knee - after giving up three straight hits to start the game. Then, in the third inning, the inevitable became manifest.

Phillies catalyst Shane Victorino, a former top prospect for the opposing club, wound up the target of Dodgers' message. It came with two outs, with the Dodgers holding a 6-1 lead.

The message came in at 94 mph, at Victorino's head.

That was the problem.

"I know they're going to throw at somebody," he grumbled later. "Just don't throw at my head."

Predictably, that spurred the fiery Victorino to point at his head and challenge Kuroda. Little came from it immediately: a little top-step barking from the dugouts, Ramirez woofing from the edge of the leftfield grass, the bullpen doors opening, Victorino yapping.

Home plate umpire Mike Everitt warned both benches.

When Victorino eventually grounded out to first base, a play that required Kuroda to drift toward the bag, Victorino yapped at him again. He pointed at his head, and chastised Kuroda.

Glacially, as Kuroda responded, the bullpens and dugouts emptied.

Finally, quickly, Victorino was wrestled to the ground by reliever Scott Eyre and ushered away from the simmering scrum by catching instructor Mick Billmeyer. Similarly, Ramirez was surrounded by a phalanx of restrainers as he and Victorino exchanged heated pleasantries - from 15 yards.

Of course, Dodgers third base coach and Phillies legend Larry Bowa had to have a piece, as did Phillies first base coach and Dodgers legend Davey Lopes.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre appeared to bark at Myers, who gave it back, but Myers claimed to hear and say nothing. Myers saw the episode as regrettable, and unsurprising.

"They probably thought I was throwing at Manny's head," Myers said. "I didn't. I think it's squashed."

Order eventually was restored. No one was ejected.

As a matter of fact, so cool were the collective heads that, when Chad Durbin hit Martin with a curveball in the back in the seventh inning, nobody seemed to notice. Everitt didn't even throw anybody out.

Oh, well.

There's always today, and Game 4. *

Buzz this story.

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