Victorino as tough as 'Nails' in the postseason

ESPN.com

Updated: October 14, 2008

James Lang/US Presswire

Of Shane Victorino's eight hits this postseason, five have been for extra bases.

VICTORINO COMING UP BIG IN POSTSEASON

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

Shane Victorino is hitting only .188 (3-for-16) in the NLCS, but he sure has made his hits count. The Phillies are one victory away from going to the World Series, and Victorino -- now the club's all-time leader for RBIs in a postseason (11, surpassing Lenny "Nails" Dykstra's 10) -- has been the primary reason why.

To those who have followed the Phillies all season, Victorino's success is hardly a surprise. Many compare his style of play to Dykstra, a Phillies fan favorite and a very productive player during his time in Philadelphia.

The Phillies went 25-9 in the regular season when Victorino drove in a run, and they're 4-0 when he drives one home in postseason play. Maybe he should consider changing his name to Victori-yes.

To The Victorino Go The Spoils
Postseason game Action Result
NLCS Game 1 Bases-loaded walk, RBI Phillies win 3-1
NLDS Game 2 Grand slam, two doubles, four RBIs Phillies win 5-2
NLCS Game 2 Two-run single, two-run triple Phillies win 8-5
NLCS Game 4 Game-tying two-run HR in 8th inning Phillies win 7-5

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BBTN MINUTE: NLCS GAME 5 PREVIEW

STAT OF THE DAY

Inside Edge Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels possesses perhaps the best changeup in the majors. Against Hamels' devastating change, batters have managed just a .129 well-hit average (NL average is .258). The Dodgers recorded a well-hit ball only 7.5 percent of the time when they swung at a lefty change this season, ranking 28th in the majors. Here's a look at the Dodgers' hitters who struggle when lefties throw a changeup:

Dodgers vs. LHP changeups
Swings Well-hit Well-hit swing %
Rafael Furcal 20 0.0 0.0
James Loney 13 0.0 0.0
Russell Martin 54 3 5.6
Jeff Kent 47 3 6.4

THIS DATE IN POSTSEASON HISTORY: OCT. 15

1946: Enos Slaughter completes his "Mad Dash" toward home plate, helping the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the World Series. In the bottom of the eighth, Slaughter scores from first base on a double, taking advantage of Johnny Pesky's hesitant relay throw.

1986: The New York Mets and Houston Astros play the longest game in postseason history. The Mets rally to tie the game with three runs in the ninth inning on their way to a 7-6 win in 16 innings.

1988: An injured Kirk Gibson hits one of the most dramatic home runs in World Series lore. With two outs in the ninth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers trailing the Oakland A's by a run, Gibson limps to the plate with a strained knee. Gibson smacks a two-run homer against Dennis Eckersley to win Game 1.

2001: In only their fourth year of existence, the Arizona Diamondbacks win their first postseason series, beating the Cardinals 2-1 thanks to Tony Womack's two-out game-winning hit in the deciding fifth game of the NLDS. Arizona had lost it first playoff series to the Mets in 1999.