- (Sports Network) - Cole Hamels attempts to pitch the Philadelphia Phillies into the World Series for the first time in 15 years this evening, as the team tries to finish off the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium. Hamels has been brilliant for the Phillies this postseason, winning both of his starts while pitching to a 1.20 earned run average with 17 strikeouts in 15 innings. After throwing eight scoreless innings to get the win in Game 1 of the NLDS, Hamels surrendered two runs and six hits in seven innings to earn the Game 1 victory against the Dodgers in the NLCS.

The 24-year-old left-hander was 1-0 in two starts against the Dodgers in the regular season, allowing six runs in 14 innings.

Philadelphia moved one step closer towards its first Fall Classic since losing to the Toronto Blue Jays in six games back in 1993 with a thrilling come-from- behind win on Monday. Matt Stairs' two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning propelled the Phillies to a 7-5 win over the Dodgers and gave them a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven set.

Shane Victorino, one of seven players fined for their roles in a Game 3 fracas between the teams, had tied the game two batters earlier with a two-run home run. Victorino now has 11 RBI this postseason, breaking Lenny Dykstra's team mark of 10 in 1993.

The power onslaught made a winner of Ryan Madson (1-0), who gave up just one hit and one walk in 1 2/3 effective frames. Brad Lidge came on for a rare four-out save to put the Phillies on the verge of clinching the pennant.

Cory Wade (0-1) served up Victorino's home run and was charged with the loss, but it was LA closer Jonathan Broxton who was taken deep by Stairs. Carlos Ruiz had singled off of Wade and was on base at the time of Stairs' blast.

Manny Ramirez continued his sizzling postseason, going 2-for-2 with three walks and knocking in a run for the Dodgers. He has now driven in at least one run in 10 of his last 11 LCS games, including a major-league record eight straight.

Los Angeles will now try to become just the 12th team in major league history to rally back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series. Boston did it last year in the ALCS, but it has only happened on two other occasions in the NLCS since the format was switched to a best-of-seven in 1985.

In fact, nine of the 11 teams that have gone up 3-1 in NLCS play have advanced to the World Series. The 2003 Florida Marlins and 1996 Atlanta Braves are the only NL clubs to overcome such a deficit in this round.

For the Dodgers to even get to that point, though, they will need a much better effort from righty Chad Billingsley than they got from him in Game 2. Billingsley was torched for eight runs (7 earned) and eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings of that one.

The 24-year-old righty was 10-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) at home this season.

Each team won four games from one another in the season series, with each capturing a four-game sweep on their home turf.

These teams are also no stranger to one another in the postseason, having met on three other occasions. However, they have not met up in the playoffs since the Phils defeated the Dodgers, 3-1, to advance to the 1983 World Series.

Los Angeles, though, defeated the Phils the first two times these teams squared off in NLCS play.

Unfortunately, the winner of the past three LCS matchups between these two has gone on to lose the World Series.

Game 6 of this series, if necessary, will shift back to Philadelphia on Friday.











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