Phils Strike First, Beat Dodgers 8-6 in Game 1 of NLCS

Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz both hit three-run homers in the Phillies' 8-6 win over the Dodgers in Game One of the NLCS on Thursday night. Cole Hamels didn't have his A game but still earned the win. Brad Lidge managed to lock down the save without surrendering a run.
The Dodgers had plenty of chances to score, smacking an NLCS club record 14 hits, but stranded 10 men on base. Manny Ramirez went deep, but failed to come up with the big hit in the eighth inning with two men on base.
Full game recap
KYW's Pat Loeb reports that it was a roller coaster ride for fans who went to McFadden's at the ball park to watch the game.
Despite the Phils' two run lead going into the ninth, fans were holding their breath right up until the last out:
"It was a little bit of white knuckle pitching, but I'm glad we did it. We pulled it out. Hopefully, it will be another world series for us."
"It was fantastic is what it was."
"I'm proud of Brad Lidge. He really came through, and that's big this late in the playoffs."
The fans are daring to think sweep but they're prepared for a bumpy ride:
"They got this one down; tomorrow will be tough with Pedro. I'm looking forward to tomorrow afternoon."
First pitch for Game Two is at 4:07 on Friday.

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KYW's Hadas Kuznits reports that there's a psychological explanation for why some Phillies fans have such deep superstitions.
Do you have any superstitious rituals when it comes to your sports?
"I'm the type of person, I have to really concentrate on the game. I feel like if I'm being distracted, it can really interfere with my team winning."
"I do set up my little bobbleheads and my towels and everything at home."
Dr. Michele DoCorcia with Rowan University says fans who have rituals tend to believe that they actually have a hand in how their team performs:
"There's a concept called the Social Learning Theory in Sports Psychology and most fans become a part of something that's bigger than them, which is professional sports."
She also says you can see how wrapped up a fan gets by how they speak about their team:
Kuznits: "Now, if the Phillies win do you start talking about them like, WE won, or do you say The Phillies won?"
"We both won, yeah! We won, they won, yeah, everybody's happy!"
Kuznits: "Is it we or is it they?"
"We!"
Source kyw1060.com/