Phillies 4, Giants 2
If the San Francisco Giants are going to get back to the World Series for the first time since 2002, they'll have to go via Philadelphia.
The Phillies kept alive their hopes of a third consecutive National League pennant, beating the Giants 4-2 in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series on Thursday to send the series back to Philadelphia this weekend.
Phillies ace Roy Halladay wasn't at his best - he lasted six innings, allowing two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out five - but Philadelphia's struggling offense gave him just enough support and the bullpen made it stand up.
Four relievers combined to work three innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit and no walks. Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the series.
The Phillies did most of their damage in the third, when first baseman Aubrey Huff's error on Shane Victorino's ground ball allowed two runs to score. Placido Polanco followed with an RBI single to make it 3-1.
Jayson Werth hit a solo homer off Ramon Ramirez in the ninth, his second home run of the series and his 13th in 43 postseason games. Raul Ibanez, who was 0-for-11 in the first four games of the series, went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Giants starter Tim Lincecum, the Game 1 winner, was unable to close out the series. The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed three runs - two earned - on four hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Andres Torres and Freddy Sanchez had two hits apiece and Buster Posey and Cody Ross each drove in runs for the Giants.
Game 6 is set for Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia.