NLCS: Dodgers 7, Phillies 2

LOS ANGELES - If anything was revealed on this near-perfect Sunday afternoon in this historic Southern California ballpark, it's that these so-called laid-back dudes in blue uniforms are not so laid-back after all.

You know it's a wild night at Dodger Stadium when an opposing player is angered when a Dodgers pitcher throws at his head, instead of his ribs.

"It's part of the game," Dodgers catcher Russell Martin said. "We're not headhunters by any means. But when there's a statement to be made, you've got to get it done."

That's an understatement.

The Dodgers went offensive, got defensive, almost got into a brawl and when the field was finally cleared after the game was over; the home team had edged the Phillies, 7-2, in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.

The Phillies still lead the NLCS two games to one. They also lead in hit batsmen, two to none -- tagging Russell Martin twice with pitches Sunday.

In the first inning, Martin was hit by a pitch from Phillies starter Jamie Moyer and buzzed under his chin in the bottom of the second.  The Dodgers catcher went ballistic in the dugout, slamming down his helmet and screaming after grounding out in the second frame.

The tension spilled on to the field in the third inning, when Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda knocked down Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino with a pitch above his head. Victorino contested during the at-bat, pointing at his head, and later exchanging words with Kuroda after grounding out.

Kuroda talked back and both benches emptied. Ramirez charged in from left field and had to be restrained until order was restored.  An animated Phillies reliever JC Romero was held back by his teammates as he barked at Ramirez.

 "I just tried to let them know that we were not trying to hit Manny in the head," Romero said. "We are talking about lives here. We don't want to hit anybody in the head. Hopefully, we can put this behind us and keep playing baseball the way we been playing."

This blue and red rivalry has been heating up for days. In Game 2, Phillies starter Brett Myers hit Martin with a pitch and also threw behind Ramirez. Kuroda brushed back Phillies All-Star Chase Utley with a pitch in the first inning. Martin was hit for the second time Sunday on the first pitch he saw in the seventh inning for good measure.

"We knocked down Martin twice and threw behind (Ramirez by) Brett (Myers). The situation called for it," Victorino said. "But, like I said, the one thing is just don't throw at my head. That's what I told Russell. I said, the one thing I ask is if your going to hit me hit me, hit me anywhere else. Just don't throw at my head, that's all I ask."

Ramirez appeared to warn Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz when the Dodgers left fielder stepped in the batter's box in the fourth frame.

"He was saying that it's not good to throw at somebody's head and he's right. But that was not our intention," Ruiz said. "It's part of baseball. The intensity of the game sometimes makes you think there are problems but it's not like that."

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