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Dodger bats trump weather

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Some of the highs and lows of watching Dodgers-Phillies Game 3:

Say hey

“Beat L.A., beat L.A., beat L.A.” That’s the first thing you heard as TBS began its coverage. Don’t Philadelphia fans realize that’s a Boston Celtics thing? And Philly fans hate Celtics fans.

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Say what?

Chip Caray, on the play-by-play, said Shane Victorino “helicopters his way” to the Phillies’ dugout after a strikeout. It was the second time Caray used “helicopter” as a verb. Weird.

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Replay this

The TBS pitch sequence of Cliff Lee retiring Manny Ramirez in the top of the seventh. What made it perfect was analyst Ron Darling’s descriptions of all the pitches. And we saw Ramirez shaking his kerchief-covered head in disgust as he walked into the dugout.

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Replay this II

Victorino wore a TBS microphone during the game. He was very polite in telling Dodgers first baseman James Loney to stay warm and good luck in the first inning. And soon after that Victorino took off and stole second. Maybe his tailwind warmed up Loney a bit.

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Sharp shot

The Zapruder-esque detailing by reporter Craig Sager on the travels of a bat let go by Victorino, a bat that sailed into the stands. Sager dived into the crowd and pointed out the bat trajectory and who might have been hit (but uninjured).

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Before & after

Lots of talk about the weather again. It was cold, same as in New York the night before. But, really, is 46 degrees that cold? Turns out the weather didn’t matter by the end. The Dodgers’ absent bats was the discussion point.

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Not in the box score

The scary graphic that showed Phillies slugger Ryan Howard came into the game five for seven with runners in scoring position. Two Phillies were on base when that graphic came up. But not for long. Howard tripled, two runs scored. RISP Dodgers fans.

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And another thing

Caray twice called Philadelphia the “fighting city of Philadelphia.” What does that mean exactly? Just because of the “Rocky” statue? Or the fact there had to be a courthouse in the basement of the old Veterans Stadium so rowdy Eagles fans could immediately be processed after frequent scuffles? Or just a stereotype?

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diane.pucin@latimes.com

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twitter.com/mepucin

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