1978 National League Championship Series

The 1978 National League Championship Series was a best-of-five matchup for the second straight year between the West Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the East Division champion Philadelphia Phillies. The Dodgers beat the Phillies three games to one once again and would go on to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees, as they had the year before.

Game 1
Wednesday, October 4, 1978 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Because of having to start an NL East-clinching game a few days earlier, Phillies ace Steve Carlton wasn't available for the start of the series, leaving the task to Larry Christenson. Christenson didn't fare well, as he was rocked for seven runs in five innings, the big blows coming on a three-run homer by Steve Garvey in the third inning and a two-run homer by Davey Lopes in the fourth. Garvey also added a triple and run scored in the fifth and another solo homer in the ninth. Steve Yeager also homered for the Dodgers.

Rookie Bob Welch took the win for the Dodgers.

Game 2
Thursday, October 5, 1978 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Dodgers won their second straight on the road in this series on the strength of a complete-game four-hit shutout by Tommy John. Davey Lopes continued to swing a hot bat, driving in three of the runs on a home run, single, and triple.

Game 3
Friday, October 6, 1978 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

With Steve Carlton finally available to pitch, the Phillies cut the series deficit to 2–1 at Dodger Stadium. In addition to pitching a complete game, Carlton helped himself with the bat by hitting a three-run homer in the second off Don Sutton. Carlton added an RBI single in the sixth and scored on a double by Jerry Martin.

Greg Luzinski also homered for the Phillies, while Steve Garvey belted his third homer of the series for the Dodgers.

Game 4
Saturday, October 7, 1978 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California

With the Phillies fighting for their playoff lives, the Dodgers struck first in the second inning on a double by Ron Cey and an RBI single by Dusty Baker, the first of four hits he would collect in this game. Greg Luzinski put the Phillies back on top with a two-run homer in the third.

Cey tied it in the fourth with a home run, then Steve Garvey gave the Dodgers the lead with a homer, his fourth of the series, in the sixth. The home run was also his fifth extra base hit of the Series and tied Bob Robertson's 1971 NLCS records for home runs and extra base hits in a League Championship Series. But, Bake McBride tied it once again for the Phillies in the seventh with a home run of his own.

In the bottom of the tenth, Tug McGraw retired the first two Dodger batters, but then surrendered a walk to Cey. Baker then lifted a fly to center that Garry Maddox appeared to lose in the sun. Maddox started back on the ball, then charged forward, and the ball glanced off his glove. Now, Cey was on second and Baker on first. The next batter, Bill Russell, lined a base hit to center. Maddox charged, but the ball skipped past him, enabling Cey to score the winning run. Had Maddox fielded the ball cleanly, he had a play on Cey at the plate. But, once again, it was not to be for the Phils.

Composite box
1978 NLCS (3–1): Los Angeles Dodgers over Philadelphia Phillies