Impostors ruining Dodgers' feel-good story

PHILADELPHIA -- Like casualties of a brilliantly soured romance, the Dodgers trudged into the horizon Friday night surrounded by baleful foghorn tones and old fireworks smoke.

We don't even know them anymore.

Who is this team that, one week after boldly sweeping the Chicago Cubs, is timidly collecting at the same dustpan after losing the first two games of the National League Championship Series to the Philadelphia Phillies?

The final score here in Friday's Game 2 Phillies' victory was 8-5, but it wasn't that close, because the Dodgers just weren't that good.

Who is this manager who allowed his starting pitcher to wilt for a second consecutive game? What happened to the great Joe Torre?

Who is this outfielder who has one bloop hit in seven at-bats, zero hits in five chances with men on base and one big center-field boot? Where is the likable Matt Kemp?

What about the leadoff hitter who has one hit in nine at-bats, a game-changing wild throw, and all sorts of uncomfortable grimaces? Who took the beloved Rafael Furcal?

The Dodgers didn't just leave Citizens Bank Park field Friday, they were thrown out by a Phillies team that pushed them to the door just before snatching their swagger.

Gone is the clubhouse music. Gone are the hopeful smiles. Gone is the idea that Manny Ramirez can carry them.

He hit a three-run homer Friday, he's batting .375 in the series, and the Dodgers still haven't won a game.

Meanwhile, his Phillies counterpart Ryan Howard doesn't have a hit in eight at-bats, looks as lost as the entire cast of "Rocky V," and yet his team still hasn't lost.

Historically, the Dodgers are barely breathing, as only one of nine teams in seven-game NLCS history have recovered from a two-games-to-none deficit to win the series.

Realistically, yeah, well, same thing.

"I think we're better," Kemp said. "I know we're better."

That statement currently qualifies as his second error.

The Dodgers are coming home as changed men, and even if you recognize them, you will certainly not understand them.

"We're in a tough spot right now," Casey Blake said. "We're going to have to come out fighting."

On Friday they came out tentatively sparring, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning against mercurial Phillies starter Brett Myers on a couple of hits followed by a Blake DeWitt groundout.

It seemed like an hour before they were able to bat again.

With two out in the bottom of the second, six consecutive Phillies reached base, leading to four runs, two of which scored after Kemp booted a ball that landed in front of him.