The Dodgers made up most of the deficit in the bottom half of the fifth when Andre Ethier reached base on a Chase Utley throwing error that scored Russell Martin, immediately followed by a Manny Ramirez two-run home run.

The Dodgers scored two runs in the bottom half of the eighth on Martin's RBI single and a Rafael Furcal sacrifice fly, but Ryan Madson shut down the eighth-inning rally and Brad Lidge, despite allowing a hit and a walk, pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save.

Game 2 featured a pitching duel between Vicente Padilla and Pedro Martinez, two pitchers who were not even on their respective teams' Opening Day rosters.

On a 3–2 pitch Russell Martin grounded into a tailor-made double play to Pedro Feliz, but Chase Utley threw the ball away which allowed the Dodgers' first run of the game.

Ryan Madson then walked Rafael Furcal to load the bases and struck out Matt Kemp, but Andre Ethier drew a walk-off of J.

With the large lead in hand, Lee batted in the bottom of the eighth stroking a single and scoring on the Victorino home run, but he did not start the ninth inning.

The Phillies once again jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Ryan Howard hit a two-run home run off Dodgers starter Randy Wolf.

The Dodgers tied the game in the top of the fourth inning when Phillies starter Joe Blanton allowed RBI singles to James Loney and Russell Martin.

On a 1–1 count, Rollins hit a line drive into the right-center field gap, easily scoring pinch runner Eric Bruntlett and Ruiz, giving the Phillies a 5–4 walk-off win.

Madson, though, retired the next three batters to end the inning and the Phillies got that run back in the bottom half when Chase Utley scored on a wild pitch from Ronald Belisario.

[8] The messy divorce eventually led to a dispute over ownership control that would culminate in a major moment in Los Angeles Dodgers history, as it set in motion for Guggenheim Baseball Management to buy the team in 2012 for $2.15 billion.

They continued to have success until 2011, but hampered with large contracts and declining performance from aging players, they began a long re-build in the mid 2010s and did not make the postseason again until 2022.

Numerous 2008-2009 Philadelphia Phillies would eventually be traded to or signed with the Dodgers in the years afterwards: Despite his accomplishments and success in the late 2000s, Jonathan Broxton's costly blown saves in Game 4 of the 2008 and 2009 National League Championship Series proved to be career defining.

[16] However, he faded in the second half, beginning with a four-run blown save against the New York Yankees in a prime-time game on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball at Dodger Stadium.

[17] In somewhat of a repeat performance against the Phillies, he blew another four-run lead on August 12, a game which put a dent in the Dodgers chances at a third straight National League West crown.