For Werth, trying to get into the groove he'd occupied throughout most of the 2009 season and now into October, it was a wake-up gesture. He almost certainly hadn't been expecting to bat until the second inning.

But after Vicente Padilla got the first two Phillies in the first, the erratic Dodgers starter walked ' Utley and Ryan Howard in rapid succession.

Suddenly, Werth, who hadn't much time to observe, strode to the plate with none of the studied cool that has become the hirsute outfielder's trademark.

Six pitches later the awkwardness and, as it turned out, the Dodgers' National League Championship Series chances, had vanished.

The Phillies' outfielder blasted a 3-2, three-run homer to the opposite field, deep into the right-field seats. It gave the Phillies a lead they would not relinquish in a 10-4 victory over L.A. that gave them a second straight NL pennant for the first time in their long history.

Later, Werth would also single and then homer again - this time to dead center - giving him a team-leading five home runs this postseason as well as 10 RBIs, second only to Ryan Howard.

Mr. Cool is Mr. Hot this October.

"You can't pitch around Howard," Dodgers coach Larry Bowa had said presciently when this series began, "not with the way Werth is swinging the bat."

Werth's big night was further proof to the Dodgers, as if they needed any more, that they erred egregiously when they let him go.

"He's turned into one of the best all-around outfielders in the league," Jimmy Rollins said last week. "He's got the power numbers. He's got a great arm. A great glove. We're lucky to have him."

As his postseason numbers ascend like a bullish stock index, it's easy to forget that this is really Werth's first full season as a regular.

Last year, when it became clear that Charlie Manuel wanted him in his everyday lineup, the Phils' manager predicted that with a full season of at-bats, Werth, who would finish 2008 with a .273 average, 24 homers and 67 RBIs, could produce 35 homers and 100 RBIs.

Manuel knows sluggers.

Werth's average dipped a bit, to .268, but he collected 36 homers and 99 RBIs, and stole 20 bases to boot.

Those kinds of numbers justified the two-year, $10 million deal he signed in January, precluding what would have been an interesting arbitration hearing.

Through nine games in this postseason, Werth has been an enormous presence in the center of the Phils' lineup. Not only is he the big righthanded bat that tempers opposing managers' desire to throw nothing but lefthanders at Philadelphia, but he ensures that Howard will see good pitches, and his hot hitting has eased another autumn power swoon by Chase Utley.

The Phils' No. 5 hitter is batting .281 in the postseason.

The unruffled slugger is producing numbers that are sure to ruffle opponents.

Contact staff writer Frank Fitzpatrick at 215-854-5068 or ffitzpatrick@phillynews.com.