Three contests with direct implications on the NL pennant race, three nailbiter one-run games, three perfect outcomes for the Phillies.
They won't all go this well the rest of the way. Please be ready for a heartbreaker or two.
First, the New York Mets fell to the lowly Washington Nationals, by a 1-0 score. Infamous Phillie Killer Odalis Perez held the Mets to four hits and no runs over 7 1/3 innings pitched. Mike Pelfrey was fantastic, again, but the Mets offense continues to be anemic.
Then, as we well know, the Philadelphia Phillies blew a three run lead, then stormed back to overcome a 7-4 deficit to clip the Atlanta Braves, 8-7. Ryan Howard continued his hot hitting, almost single-handedly lifting the Phillies to victory with a two run homer in the 8th to put the Phillies in the lead for good. Howard went 4 for 5 and fell a double short of the cycle. It's awesome to watch, but kind of frustrating to imagine where the team would be if Howard was anywhere close to this all season. Brad Lidge continues to walk a tightrope, loading the bases by walking JEFF FRANCOEUR (seriously?) in the bottom of the 9th only to strike out Gregor Blanco to lock down the victory.
Finally, Kerry Wood held off a late-inning Milwaukee Brewers surge, striking out Prince Fielder with a wicked curveball to preserve a 5-4 victory. CC Sabathia took his first NL loss of the season, which probably torpedoed his insurgent NL Cy Young/MVP campaign.
OUR PHILLIES now sit atop the NL East by a half game (tied with the Mets in the loss column) and are one game ahead of the Brewers in the Wild Card race.
PHILLIES FEVER... CATCH IT (like a case of chlamydia)!!!