"You have to feel good about it," said right fielder Jayson Werth, who homered again and collected three more RBIs, giving him three home runs and seven RBIs over the last two games. "They have a good club, and they're real tough at home. But I think we showed that we can play with anybody."

Added lefty Jamie Moyer, after another solid start, "To come into an opposing team's park, especially this one when (the Cubs) are playing so well, I've got to feel it's a nice confidence-builder for us to come in here and play well."

The Phillies, most certainly, played well.

During the four games, they held a lead for 25-1/2 innings. The Cubs had the lead for eight innings. They held the Cubs without an extra-base hit during the final two games. The Cubs (85-52) are 51-21 at Wrigley, but thanks to the Phillies (75-62), they dropped back-to-back games at the "Friendly Confines" for the first time since July 25-26.

And when it was over Sunday, and a blue flag with an "L" had been hoisted over the scoreboard per Wrigley tradition, the Phillies began thinking about a return trip for the NL Championship Series in October. First, of course, they'll have to overcome a one-game deficit against the Mets and win the NL East.

But the Phillies were filled with confidence. And, after the past four games, wouldn't a Cubs-Phillies series for the right to advance to the World Series be entertaining?

"We finished 4-3 against them (this season)," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We definitely can play with them. Are they good? Yeah. But if you watch the way we play, we can play right there with them. It might be a hell of a playoff series between us."

Said Moyer, "I'd enjoy that. It would be fun."

PHILLIES 5, CUBS 3: Jayson Werth homered and drove in three runs Sunday to give the Phillies a split of their four-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Ryan Howard went 3-for-5, and Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Werth had two hits apiece for the Phillies, who remained one game behind the Mets in the NL East. Jamie Moyer allowed two runs in 5 1/3 solid innings before relievers Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge combined to allow one run in the final 3 2/3. Howard increased his league-leading RBI total to 114. The Phillies became the first opponent to win back-to-back games at Wrigley Field since the Marlins on July 25-26.