MLB: Philadelphia 5, LA Dodgers 1

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Jimmy Rollins led off the game with a home run Wednesday and Philadelphia earned a berth in the World Series by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1.

The Phillies, who have played in the National League for 125 years, will be trying to win the World Series for only the second time. They will have a week off before taking on either Tampa Bay or Boston beginning Oct. 22.

Philadelphia eliminated the Dodgers in five games, capturing its first league title since 1993.

Cole Hamels improved his post-season record to 3-0 by limiting the Dodgers to a run on five hits over seven innings. By the time Hamels left the game, Philadelphia had produced five runs thanks to a combination timely hitting and a meltdown in the field by Los Angeles shortstop Rafael Furcal.

Rollins worked the count full against Chad Billingsley to open the contest before hitting a home run to right.

With Billingsley still on the mound in the third, Rollins drew a walk and stole second. Chase Utley then walked and Ryan Howard followed with a two-out single that delivered Rollins. A single by Pat Burrell brought home Utley to make it 3-0.

Philadelphia added two runs in the fifth with the help of two errors by Furcal -- one of them a fielding miscue that allowed Utley to score from second. Furcal also threw the ball away on a grounder from Carlos Ruiz, permitting Ryan Howard to come in from third.

The Dodgers' lone run came on a homer by Manny Ramirez in the sixth.

Philadelphia's lone World Series title came in 1980. The American League Championship Series resumes Thursday with Tampa Bay holding a 3-1 advantage over the Red Sox.