Magic Number is TWO!

(originally posted 9/28/07)

April 6th, 2005. That was the last time the Phillies were in first place by themselves. Until now. With two games remaining in the regular season, and a one-game NL East lead over the Mets, the Phillies' destiny is in their hands.

Cole Hamels was in Hamelsian form tonight, pitching eight shutout innings in the 6-0 victory over the Washington Nationals. He allowed only six hits, and a single walk, while striking out thirteen Nats' batters. It was the kind of outing you need from your ace when you are pursuing a playoff spot. Colbert Michael delivered, mixing up his fastball, curve, and unhittable change in his 116 pitch (82 strike) outing.

Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins also delivered, Howard with his 45th homer (two-run shot), and Rollins with 2 RBI of his own. Aaron Rowand made a sliding, backhanded catch in center, and Clay Condrey pitched a scoreless ninth. Workhorse relievers J.C. Romero, Tom Gordon, and Brett Myers were not needed, which was another bonus. My only concern was that Hamels had a rather high pitch count, considering that this was only his third start since a DL stint for arm fatigue. (I would have pinch-hit for him in the 7th, when he was allowed to bat with the bases loaded, and two outs.) Hopefully, all those pitches won't come back to haunt the Phillies, when Hamels is pitching IN THE WORLD SERIES!

As for the New York Mets, they are done. They'll be lucky to win another game. They look terrible, their pitching has deserted them, even their fans and announcers seem resigned to the fact that they will finish out of the playoffs. With another loss to the Marlins Saturday, and a win by the Phillies, and the Mets will have blown their once-huge NL East lead. Phillies fans are exalting in the schadenfreude right now. (Ah! The glorious schadenfreude!)

The Phillies send Adam Eaton to the mound on Saturday, in a nationally-televised game. (It better be televised in Massachusetts, FOX! Don't be showing the Cubs, or any nonsense like that!) Eaton has probably been the worst starting pitcher in the major leagues this season, and certainly one of the worst free agent pickups of the offseason. But it doesn't matter. He'll give up his five runs in four innings, and the Phils bullpen will shut out the Nats the rest of the way. And a five-run deficit is nothing (NOTHING!) for Howard, Rollins, Burrell, Utley, and the Phillies offense.