Yovani Gallardo

Cole Hamels and Yovani Gallardo followed different paths to Game 1 of the National League division series. Hamels is the ace, the obvious choice to start for the Phillies. Gallardo is the ace of the future, chosen because the Milwaukee Brewers didn't have a better option. But both relish the opportunity to put their team in position to win this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. With 227 1/3 innings pitched, Hamels finished second in the National League to the New York Mets' Johan Santana (234 1/3)

At Miller Park. Thursday at 8:10 p.m. (CSN) LHP Cole Hamels (13-7, 2.63 ERA) vs. Milwaukee LHP Chris Narveson (10-6, 4.26). Friday at 8:10 p.m. (CSN) RHP Roy Halladay (16-5, 2.49) vs. Milwaukee RHP Shaun Marcum (12-5, 3.11). Saturday at 7:10 p.m. (PHL17) LHP Cliff Lee (16-7, 2.47) vs. Milwaukee LHP Randy Wolf (12-9, 3.47). Sunday at 2:10 p.m. (PHL17) RHP Vance Worley (11-1, 2.85)

ST. LOUIS - On the day he pitches, Chris Carpenter can be an ornery cuss. He prowls the mound, barks at hitters, and on at least one occasion has been known to invite a basepath collision. Though just an 11-game winner for the St. Louis Cardinals, the 36-year-old righthander has been in dominating mode since midseason. Apparently in the Milwaukee Brewers' heads, too, heading into a matchup of aces in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night against 17-game winner Yovani Gallardo.

I left my heart in San Francicso? Maybe the folks at Major League Baseball should send Majestic outfitters a set of yearbooks. Either that or a list with the teams's names in big, easy-to-read type. Majestic makes all the uniforms for the major leagues, but has run into an embarrassing spelling problem two straight seasons. When Giants reserve Eugenio Velez trotted to the outfield in the seventh inning at Houston on Wednesday night, his road grays read: "San Francicso.

Jimmy Rollins and Brett Myers watched two televisions from a couple chairs inside the Phillies' clubhouse yesterday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The TV on the left had the aftermath of the Milwaukee Brewers' 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The TV on the right had the final outs of the New York Mets' 4-2 loss to the Florida Marlins. But as soon as Mets rightfielder Ryan Church flied out to deep center field to end the game at Shea Stadium and crush the hopes and dreams of Mets fans - yes, that's two straight Mets collapses - Rollins hopped out of his seat and left the clubhouse.

Milwaukee Brewers righthander Dave Bush got a good workout in at Citizens Bank Park and then went home. Literally. After preparing yesterday for today's start of the National League Division Series against the Phillies, Bush said he was leaving for Devon, where his parents, Tom and Rita, reside. A star catcher at Conestoga High, Bush attended Wake Forest, where he saw limited time behind the plate and was converted into one of the most successful closers in college baseball.

Adding a big arm to their bullpen, the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers acquired former All-Star closer George Sherrill from the Baltimore Orioles yesterday for two minor leaguers. The rebuilding Orioles receive third baseman Josh Bell and righthander Steve Johnson, both of whom were at Double A Chattanooga. Sherrill has 20 saves for last-place Baltimore and gives Los Angeles, with the best record in the NL, a lefthanded complement to All-Star closer Jonathan Broxton. Sherrill is expected to join the Dodgers today in Atlanta.

Josh Johnson pitched a three-hitter, had a career-high 12 strikeouts and drove in three runs to help the Florida Marlins beat the visiting San Diego Padres, 10-1, last night. Dan Uggla homered and drove in three runs for Florida. Hanley Ramirez also homered. Johnson (2-1), who signed a $39 million, 4-year contract in January, pitched past the sixth inning for the first time in five starts this season. He walked one and threw 117 pitches in his fourth career complete game, his first since June 14, 2009.

MILWAUKEE - Yovani Gallardo could barely see the return tosses from catcher Jonathan Lucroy, losing them in the bright light filtering through the windows at Miller Park. Imagine how the Diamondbacks felt. Gallardo emerged from the shadows, outpitching Arizona ace Ian Kennedy as the Milwaukee Brewers kept winning at home with a 4-1 victory in their NL division series opener on Saturday. "It was tough for me seeing the ball coming back, just having the sun there in the background.

ST. LOUIS - Albert Pujols hit an RBI double during a four-run first inning and the St. Louis bullpen bailed out Chris Carpenter as the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3, last night for a 2-1 edge in the NLCS. In a matchup of aces, neither Carpenter nor 17-game Yovani Gallardo made it past the fifth. The one-run lead Carpenter handed over was just enough, as four relievers combined for four perfect innings. Fernando Salas, Lance Lynn, Marc Rzepczynski and Jason Motte shut down the Brewers to close out the victory.

ST. LOUIS - Albert Pujols hit an RBI double during a four-run first inning, and the St. Louis bullpen bailed out Chris Carpenter as the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3, Wednesday night for a two-games-to-one edge in the National League Championship Series. In a matchup of aces, neither Carpenter nor 17-game Yovani Gallardo made it past the fifth. The one-run lead Carpenter handed over was just enough, as four relievers combined for four perfect innings. Fernando Salas, Lance Lynn, Marc Rzepczynski, and Jason Motte shut down the Brewers to close out the victory.

ST. LOUIS - On the day he pitches, Chris Carpenter can be an ornery cuss. He prowls the mound, barks at hitters, and on at least one occasion has been known to invite a basepath collision. Though just an 11-game winner for the St. Louis Cardinals, the 36-year-old righthander has been in dominating mode since midseason. Apparently in the Milwaukee Brewers' heads, too, heading into a matchup of aces in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night against 17-game winner Yovani Gallardo.

PHOENIX - Got to go with the home team when talking about a deciding Game 5, right? Phillies fans sure hope so, and so do Milwaukee Brewers fans. Their team was taken to a fifth game when the Arizona Diamondbacks used some heavy hitting to take their two home games in the NLDS, which is now even heading into this afternoon's game in Milwaukee. The whipping sticks the D-backs brought out at Chase Field produced 24 hits, 18 runs, five home runs (including a pair of grand slams)

PHOENIX - Whether the Milwaukee Brewers have a commanding lead in a playoff series or are on the brink of blowing one, you won't be able to tell by their clubhouse demeanor. And courtesy of last night's 10-6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 4 of their NLDS best-of-five series, the Brewers' 2-0 lead has evaporated and forced a deciding Game 5 tomorrow in Milwaukee. "Our mentality as an offense is it's never over," said Diamondbacks center fielder Chris Young, who hit two home runs in the win. Arizona got just three innings of work from starting pitcher Joe Saunders, but it didn't matter because the D-backs are serving up grand slams faster than a Denny's restaurant.

MILWAUKEE - Yovani Gallardo could barely see the return tosses from catcher Jonathan Lucroy, losing them in the bright light filtering through the windows at Miller Park. Imagine how the Diamondbacks felt. Gallardo emerged from the shadows, outpitching Arizona ace Ian Kennedy as the Milwaukee Brewers kept winning at home with a 4-1 victory in their NL division series opener on Saturday. "It was tough for me seeing the ball coming back, just having the sun there in the background.

MILWAUKEE - When it comes to star power, even the Arizona Diamondbacks acknowledge they're no match for the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee has a pair of MVP candidates in Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder and pulled the surprise of the offseason when they traded for standout starter Zack Greinke. The Diamondbacks' biggest star is Justin Upton - and even he feels as if he and his teammates get lost in the shuffle. "We're just a bunch of guys nobody ever heard about," Upton said.

Capsules of other Division Series D-BACKS VS. BREWERS (BEST OF 5) Game 1: Tomorrow, Arizona (Kennedy 21-4) at Milwaukee (Gallardo 17-10), 2:07 p.m. Game 2: Sunday, Arizona (Hudson 16-12) at Milwaukee (Marcum 13-7), 4:37 p.m. Game 3: Tuesday, Milwaukee (TBD) at Arizona (Greinke 16-6), TBA Game 4: Wednesday, Milwaukee at Arizona, if necessary, TBA Game 5: Friday, Oct. 7, Arizona at Milwaukee, if necessary, TBA History: This marks the first time the two teams have met in the postseason.

MILWAUKEE - The last time the Milwaukee Brewers presented a potential roadblock to the Phillies' World Series title hopes, they offered little resistance. That, of course, was the magical 2008 season, which ended when Brad Lidge struck out Tampa Bay's Eric Hinske before going to his knees and looking to the sky as a championship-starved city exploded in celebration. Here we are, three years later, and the Brewers again could serve as an obstacle in the Phillies' World Series pursuit.

At Miller Park. Thursday at 8:10 p.m. (CSN) LHP Cole Hamels (13-7, 2.63 ERA) vs. Milwaukee LHP Chris Narveson (10-6, 4.26). Friday at 8:10 p.m. (CSN) RHP Roy Halladay (16-5, 2.49) vs. Milwaukee RHP Shaun Marcum (12-5, 3.11). Saturday at 7:10 p.m. (PHL17) LHP Cliff Lee (16-7, 2.47) vs. Milwaukee LHP Randy Wolf (12-9, 3.47). Sunday at 2:10 p.m. (PHL17) RHP Vance Worley (11-1, 2.85)