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Offense roars to life as Phillies reach NLCS

'I like our chances,' Manuel says after 4-homer barrage finishes Milwaukee

Image: Phillies celebrateAP
The Phillies celebrate after beating the Brewers 6-2 on Sunday to advance to the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.

Burrell lofted Suppan’s 2-2 pitch so deep into the left-field stands that Ryan Braun barely bothered to chase it. The Phillies weren’t done, either, with Werth hitting a homer to make it 5-0. The sellout crowd at Miller Park booed Suppan, not letting up when Greg Dobbs flied out to end the inning.

Yovani Gallardo, who pitched Game 1 after missing most of the season with a knee injury, relieved Suppan and kept the Phillies in check, not allowing another hit until the seventh inning. But the damage was done by then.

“We never really got the bases loaded, got a bunch of guys on base to break the game open or get back in the game,” Sveum said.

Burrell hit another monster homer in the eighth inning off Guillermo Mota.

The Brewers had their own offensive worries, though Blanton can take credit for most of those. The burly right-hander, acquired in July from Oakland, hadn’t pitched since Sept. 26 and was making only his second career postseason appearance. But he was in a groove from the minute he took the mound, thanks partly to Rollins’ leadoff homer.

“Jimmy came out of the gates and really set the tone, gave us some momentum early,” Blanton said. “Then later Pat came through with the big blow. That’s huge. That really gives you a lot of confidence pitching.”

After a first-inning single by Braun, Blanton retired his next 10 hitters, with only four balls leaving the infield. He finally wore out in the seventh, giving up a leadoff homer to Fielder, who had been 0-for-12 in his first postseason.

The Brewers added another run in the eighth on Braun’s two-out RBI single, and the Milwaukee fans — including the blue-collar Miller delivery man who’s made it his mission to “take back the High Life” — stood and began clapping their Thunder Stix, sensing a change in momentum.

But Utley made a gorgeous, leaping catch of Fielder’s liner to second to end the inning and any hopes the Brewers had.

Notes: Rollins’ leadoff homer was the second of his career in the postseason. ... Baseball commissioner and former Brewers owner Bud Selig threw out the first pitch. ... Sabathia pinch-hit in the third inning.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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