Both the American League and National League Championship Series were in full force yesterday as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies locked up in game two of their series, while the New York Yankees hosted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the series opener.

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 catcher Carlos Ruiz as my star of the day in the championship series opener between the Dodgers and Phillies.

Today I have made new selections.

Keep in mind this is my personal opinion only.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers Game 2 (Philadelphia Leads 1-0)

Pedro Martinez

Game two of the National League Championship series portrayed quite a pitching match up which featured veteran and future hall of fame pitcher Pedro Martinez starting for the Phillies against one of the starting pitching surprises in the postseason in the form of Dodgers pitcher Vicente Padilla.

Some baseball analysts across the country have tabbed Pedro Martinez as over the hill and past his prime, but on this night Pedro was certainly the best player in the contest, with Padilla closely behind him.

Martinez was fabulous for the Phillies, pitching seven strong innings of baseball allowing zero earned runs, on two hits while striking out three.

Padilla, who pitched seven and a third innings, allowing one run, on four hits, walking one and striking out six, matched Martinez admirably.

Padilla’s lone run allowed came off the bat of Phillies slugger Ryan Howard in the top of the fourth inning as Howard smacked a solo home run into deep centre.

Pedro was dominate, but the Phils lost the game.

Even though Martinez pitched one of the best postseason games yet for the Phillies and was this writer’s star for the game, the Phillies managed to lose this game late on an odd series of events.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake got aboard with an infield single. Juan Pierre would pinch run for Blake and move to second on a bunt single by Ronnie Belliard.

The next play is where everything went wrong for the Phillies, as Russell Martin grounded to third baseman Pedro Feliz who would attempt a double play, getting Belliard at second, but Phillies second baseman Chase Utley would make a poor throw to first for the second game in a row, allowing Pierre to scamper home for the tying run.

After a single from pinch hitter Jim Thome and a walk to Rafael Furcal the bases were loaded for the Dodgers Matt Kemp who would strike out at the hands of Phillies reliever Ryan Madson.

The scenario was bases loaded with two outs and the game tied with the hot hitting Andre Ethier coming to the plate.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel wanted the best match up so he moved to his bullpen calling for left-hander J.A. Happ for the lefty on lefty match up.

It would be a bad move by Manuel, as Happ would walk Ethier, scoring Martin from third for the game-winning run in a 2-1 Dodger victory.

The win by the Dodgers tied the championship series at one a piece, as the series moves to Philadelphia on Sunday night.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim @ New York Yankees Game 1

CC Sabathia

The star of the opening game of the American League Championship series was a no-brainer for this writer as CC Sabathia was as dominate as ever in the postseason.

Sabathia who has struggled mightily in past postseason appearances for the Cleveland Indians in 2007 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 has been nothing short of exceptional so far for the Yankees in the 2009 postseason.

Sabathia completely shutdown the small ball approach of the Angels on Friday night, pitching eight innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out seven.

The only run allowed by Sabathia would come after a single off the bat of Angels first baseman Kendry Morales, scoring Vladimir Guerrero who doubled earlier in the inning.

Aside from the lone Angels run Sabathia was outstanding and was supported by a Yankees offense who manufactured four runs over the night off Angels starter John Lackey.

Lackey, who only earned two of the four runs on his pitching line, had quite the string of bad luck as the Angels, who are noted for strong defense were miserable in the field allowing three costly errors which all accounted for Yankee runs.

Game two of the American League Championship Series continues tonight in New York at New Yankee Stadium as AJ Burnett takes the mound for the Yankees battling against the Angels Joe Saunders.

The game is set to begin at 7:57pm EST.