Madson, the wafer-thin right-hander who emerged last month as the Phillies' primary eighth-inning reliever, set down dangerous Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez in the eighth inning to safeguard a one-run lead.

And it only took one pitch.

Ramirez, the dreadlocked slugger who has the most home runs (26) ever in the playoffs, stepped to the plate with one out and the bases empty. Madson stepped off the rubber and summoned catcher Carlos Ruiz for a conference. Manager Charlie Manuel, Ramirez's former manager and hitting coach, jogged onto the field and joined the conversation.

"The only thing you can do is make good pitches and don't get caught up in the moment," Madson said. "We wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page."

Said Manuel, "I wanted to make sure we knew how to pitch him and what we wanted to do. I definitely didn't want to say nothing negative, but at the same time, I wanted to reinforce how we wanted to pitch him. Manny was the tying run. He wasn't the winning run."

So, Madson uncorked a changeup and Ramirez hit a soft line drive into third baseman Pedro Feliz's waiting glove.

"Perfect," reliever Chad Durbin said.

Added closer Brad Lidge, "Great changeup."

And, from shortstop Jimmy Rollins, "That's his job, get Manny out. He did it perfectly."

PHILLIES 3, DODGERS 2: Chase Utley belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning Thursday, and Pat Burrell followed with a solo shot to lead the Phillies to a Game 1 victory at Citizens Bank Park. Cole Hamels allowed two runs in seven innings and has allowed just two runs in 15 innings over two postseason starts. Utley, a Southern California native, is 13-for-35 (.371) with three homers and seven RBIs this season against the Dodgers. The Phillies have won six consecutive games and 11 of their last 13 at Citizens Bank Park.