Behind the three-hit pitching of Roy Oswalt and a four-run eruption by the offense in the seventh inning, the Phils tie up the championship series at a game apiece, as the Phils defeat the Giants, 6-1. The series now head west to San Francisco for the next three games.

The Phils took the lead in the first as, with the bases loaded, via a walk to Chase Utley, who then stole second base, before moving up to third base on a Placido Polanco grounder to third, while Polanco would be safe at first as Giants’ third baseman Mike Fontenot commits a throwing error, and a walk to Ryan Howard, which moved Polanco up to second base and with two men out, Jimmy Rollins receives a bases loaded walk, forcing in Utley, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead, while moving both Polanco and Howard up a base. The Giants would tie the game up at one-all in the fifth as, with one man out, Cody Ross hits a solo home run, his third home run of the series. The Phils regained the lead in their half of the fifth as, with a runner on third, and with one man out, Polanco hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Shane Victorino, who had earlier doubled, then went to third on Utley’s fly out to right, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead. The Phils added to their lead in the seventh as, with two men on, and with one man out, Polanco hits an RBI single, knocking in Roy Oswalt, who had earlier singled to center, and then moved up to second base on Victorino’s sacrifice bunt, giving the Phils a 3-1 lead, while sending Utley, who had earlier been intentionally walked, up to second base. Three batters later, with the bases now loaded, after a double steal moved Utley to third base, and Polanco to second base, and after Jayson Werth is intentionally walked, and with two men out, Rollins hits a bases clearing double, scoring Utley, Polanco and Werth, making it a 6-1 Phils’ lead. That would end up being the final score as Ryan Madson came in to pitched a scoreless ninth, as he gets Edgar Renteria to end the game by grounding out, 6-3.

Roy Oswalt gets the win as he pitches eight innings, giving up a run on three hits and three walks, while striking out nine. His record in the series is now 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA. Ryan Madson pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out a batter. Jonathan Sanchez took the lost as he pitches six innings plus a batter, giving up three runs, only two of which were earned, on five hits and three walks, while striking out seven. His record is now 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA. Ramon Ramirez pitches a third of an inning, giving up two runs on a hit and a walk. Jeremy Affeldt pitches a third of an inning, giving up a run on a walk, while striking out a batter. Santiago Casilla pitches a third of an inning, giving up a hit. Sergio Romo pitches a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while striking out one.

The Phils had eight hits in the game, with Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins each leading the team with two hits, with all three batters each having a single and a double, with Rollins knocking in four runs, one via a bases loaded walk, and three via a bases clearing double. Placido Polanco and Roy Oswalt had the other two Phils’ hits, both singles, with Polanco knocking in two runs, one by sac fly and one via a single. The Phils’ offense once again won a game via timely hitting.

The Phils (1-1) and the Giants (1-1) have the day-off today, as they travel to San Francisco for the next three games. Game three of the NLCS will start tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm Eastern (1 pm Pacific) from AT&T Park. Cole Hamels will start the game for the Phils, as he is coming off a complete game shut out win against the Reds in game three of the divisional series on October 10, as he gave up just five hits, while striking out nine, in the Phils’ 2-0 win. He will be trying to continue his 2010 resurgence while trying to give the Phils a 2-1 lead in the series. The Giants will counter with Matt Cain, who is coming off a no-decision against the Braves in game two of the divisional series on October 12, as he pitched six and two-third innings, giving up a run on seven hits and two walks, while striking out six, in the Giants’ 5-4 lost. He will be trying to put the Giants back in the series lead. The Phils will be looking for another good start from Hamels, while hoping that the eruption in the seventh inning of last night’s game means that the offense is truly back.