Dodgers get back; Yanks clip Angels

LOS ANGELES – Andre Ethier drew a bases-loaded walk from J.A. Happ in a wacky eighth inning to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-1, and tie the National League Series at one game each on Friday.

Shut out on two hits for seven innings by Pedro Martinez, the Dodgers came back against Philadelphia’s bullpen. They cobbled it together with second baseman Chase Utley’s throwing error, a bunt, a single by pinch-hitter Jim Thome and two walks.

The Phillies wound up using five relievers in the eighth – closer Brad Lidge didn’t get into the game.

Game 3 in the best-of-seven series is on Sunday in Philadelphia.

Hong-Chih Kuo got the victory in relief for the Dodgers.

Ryan Howard’s homer off Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla accounted for the only run until the eighth.

The game began in 93-degree (34-degree C) heat 16 hours after the Phillies won the series opener, 8-6. The teams combined for 14 runs on 22 hits and 10 walks in that game, but offense was in short supply with Martinez and Padilla pitching.

It was a matchup of castoffs. An injury-plagued Martinez was let go by the New York Mets last season, while Padilla was dumped by Texas in August. He signed with the Dodgers two days later and excelled in their drive to a second consecutive NL West title.

Padilla allowed one run and four hits in 7 1-3 innings, struck out six and walked one. He exited to a standing ovation, tipping his cap as he walked off.

Martinez struck out three and walked none in seven innings of his first playoff game since the 2004 World Series with Boston. The three-time Cy Young winner, who turns 38 this month, proved ageless in the stadium where he made his major league debut with the Dodgers in September 1992.

Martinez gave up only two singles before turning it over to Park.

Manny Ramirez went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, twice getting retired by good friend Martinez on weak popups.

At New York, CC Sabathia pitched eight superb innings of four-hit ball to win his second straight playoffs start as New York took advantage of a rare sloppy night by Los Angeles to win the American League Championship Series opener, 4-1.

The Angels looked like chilled Californians withering in the unseasonable wintry weather - 45 degrees (7 degrees C) at game time) – making three errors that led to two unearned runs and allowing an infield popup to drop untouched for an RBI single. Even Torii Hunter, an eight-time Gold Glove center fielder, allowed a single to roll past him.

Back in the ALCS for the first time in five years, New York built a 2-0 lead in the first by taking advantage of a throwing error by left fielder Juan Rivera and a popup by Hideki Matsui that fell between third baseman Chone Figgins and shortstop Erick Aybar, who each thought the other would snag it.

Angels starter John Lackey crouched and screamed in anger. The night didn’t get much better for Los Angeles. After Kendry Morales’ fourth-inning single cut the deficit in half, Matsui doubled in a run in the fifth to make it 3-1. Lackey’s throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed Melky Cabrera to take second in the sixth, and Derek Jeter followed with a run-scoring single that got by Hunter.

Sabathia, 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his first playoffs with the Yankees, gave up a double and three singles, struck out seven and walked one, going to three-balls count just twice.  (AP)