The National League Championship Series began last night in a rematch of last season featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers hosting the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium.

Today I continue my “Stars” column, which I plan on contributing to throughout the entire MLB playoffs as often as I possibly can.

In my last article related to this column, I listed Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth as my star of the day as the first round of the playoffs concluded several days ago.

Today I have made a new selection.

Keep in mind this is my personal opinion only.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers Game 1

Carlos Ruiz

At first glance yesterday’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers had the look of a classic playoff pitching matchup between two of the best young left handed pitchers featured in the game today.

Clayton Kershaw took the mound for the Dodgers, who were contested by last season’s World Series Most Valuable Player Cole Hamels.

Through the first four innings only one run was allowed by either pitcher, a home run off the bat of James Loney for the Dodgers.

The two pitchers looked unstoppable, especially in Kershaw’s case.

However, the top of the fifth inning spelled disaster for Kershaw, as he allowed a single to Raul Ibanez, followed by a wild pitch allowing Ibanez to move to second base.

Kershaw than allowed a walk to third baseman Pedro Feliz and the decisive blow in the game came on a 2-1 count to the next batter Carlos Ruiz.

Kershaw left a fastball up in the zone which Ruiz hammered to left field for a three run home run.

In case you have not noticed, Ruiz has been on fire at the plate throughout the postseason.

The normally soft hitting, defensive catcher has been tearing the seams off the ball.

In five playoff games this season Ruiz is hitting .375 (6-16) with 1HR, 6RBI, 1 run scored, 3 walks, for 9 total bases.

Very impressive numbers for a player not known for his bat.

The Dodgers tried to claw their way back into the ball game, but were shut down immediately in the top of the eighth inning when Raul Ibanez took a hanging curve ball out of the hand of Dodger reliever George Sherrill deep to right for the final blow in an 8-6 Philadelphia win.

Although the Ibanez home run was the nail in the coffin so to speak, the home run by Ruiz set the tone early for the Phillies and was the deciding factor in the game for this writer.

If the Phillies can receive this kind of offense from their role players such as Ruiz, as well as have big games from their middle of the lineups hitters such as Ibanez than the Dodgers are in for a long series.

Playoff baseball continues today with the Philadelphia Phillies battling the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the NLCS at 4:07pm EST. Future hall of fame pitcher Pedro Martinez will take the mound for Philadelphia, as the Dodgers counter with Vicente Padilla.

The American League Championship Series will also get underway tonight at 7:57pm EST as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim visit New Yankee Stadium.

John Lackey will take the mound for the Angels as he battles the Yankees big money left hander CC Sabathia in the opener.