While every game is important, this game was incredibly important for a variety of reasons:

 1) It establishes confidence. It seems a big problem with the Chicago Cubs was once they lost the first game they lost all confidence and expected to collapse. A win tonight prevents that from ever happening.

 2) You don't concede homefield advantage.

 3) It gets the fans behind you.

 Another great performance by Hamels, but here are my keys to the game in no particular order:

1) Utley finally comes through! There is no way the Phillies are going to the next round with an unproductive Utley and Howard. One of the two needs to do something.

2) The error allowing Victorino on-base. The Dodgers are playing great. With any tight game, mistakes can be costly. So maybe I should have put this point first. Because you have to actually capitalize on any mistakes, which Utley did.

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