Werth’s 3-run homer, Feliz’s solo shot give Phillies early lead over Dodgers in NLCS Game 5

Werth, Feliz put Phillies up early in Game 5

PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer, Pedro Feliz added a solo shot and the Philadelphia Phillies took a 4-2 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers after three innings Wednesday night in Game 5 of the NL championship series.

With his team needing one win to reach the World Series for the second consecutive season, Phillies starter Cole Hamels allowed solo homers to Andre Ethier and James Loney.

Philadelphia held a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series. The Dodgers were looking to send it back to Los Angeles for Game 6.

After beating Tampa Bay in last year’s World Series, the Phillies are trying to become the first repeat champions from the NL since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76. The New York Yankees were the last team to win consecutive titles when they captured three in a row from 1998-2000.

Hamels won Game 5 of last year’s NLCS against the Dodgers, earning series MVP honors.

Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla, an ex-Phillie, retired the first two batters of the game. He walked Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, then went to a 3-0 count on Werth. After two strikes, Werth drove one the opposite way to right for his fourth home run of the postseason and a 3-1 lead. Then he came out for a curtain call.

Hamels gave up a two-out homer to Ethier in the first and gave a run right back to the Dodgers in the second when Loney hit a shot to right. The first four home runs of the game all landed in the right-field seats.

Feliz made it 4-2 when he went deep off Padilla and sent the crowd into a frenzy on a gorgeous, 63-degree night.

Hamels became a first-time father this postseason when his wife, a former “Survivor” contestant, gave birth to their son, Caleb. The left-hander, who hasn’t been able to return to his dominant form of the 2008 playoffs, threw 54 pitches in the first three innings.

Utley tied a postseason record by reaching base in 25 straight games. Utley went 0 for 4 in his first playoff game in 2007. He’s since reached base safely via a hit or walk in every postseason game he’s played.

Baltimore’s Boog Powell set the record of 25 straight games from 1966-71.

On the 29th anniversary of the Phillies winning their first World Series, 1980 manager Dallas Green tossed the first pitch to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. Green shook hands with Larry Bowa, his shortstop on the ‘80 Phils and now a Dodgers coach, and Dodgers manager Joe Torre.

Hamels warmed up to the sights and sounds of fireworks and rally towels and thunderous AC/DC chords that had the Phillies fans feeling as though this was their night to party.

Officials in Philadelphia removed trash cans and even greased up utility poles in anticipation of revelry if the Phillies clinch. City workers were coating poles, trees and bus stop shelters with slippery goo to discourage celebrating fans from climbing them. The city also removed new solar-powered trash cans from the street and asked publishers to remove unsecured newspaper boxes.

After the World Series last fall, fans in South Philly toppled a traffic pole and set off firecrackers. In Center City, a luggage store was looted, planters and taxicabs were damaged and some small fires were set.