By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

It’s one game. Sure, that line is cliched, but it is the truth. Roy Halladay and the Phillies bumbled away Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday night, and the reaction by the media makes you think Philly is in a state of panic.

We’re not.

Based on tweets by 97.5 The Fanatic, PHL 17 and stories on FOX right after the game last night, they seem to want to create a sense of urgency and disbelief by asking “are you scared?” And, “what is going on with the Phillies?”

Roy Oswalt must come with his A game on Sunday night, or the Phillies could be in big-time trouble.

Any unnerved feelings likely come from the fact that the Phillies have been rolling so well since H2O was put together, and the sweep of the hot-hitting Cincinnati Reds. Some people expected the Phillies to simply roll into the World Series with ease. That was never going to happen.

The Giants can match H2O pitcher for pitcher and were never going to be swept. This is a six or seven game war and one game isn’t a killer, despite what the numbers say about the team who wins Game 1 winning the series.

Halladay and Tim Lincecum were going to split their starts. Granted, the smart money would have said each won their home game. Now, Doc just needs to come out and dominate Game 5.

Don’t get it wrong, tonight’s game is huge and Roy Oswalt better display the stuff he had since coming to Philly and pitch like he did in the 2005 NLCS when he was the series MVP. And, the Phillies hitters must get to Jonathan Sanchez early and get him out of the game so Ryan Howard has a fighting chance to find his groove before heading to San Francisco.

A crowd that’s spent all day in South Philly watching the Eagles, partying, then filing into CBP will not let the team exit with an 0-2 deficit. The Phils win tonight and everything is right with the world.

Of course, if we wake up Monday morning facing an 0-2 hole, then I’ll join you all on the bridge for a Philly-style panic party.