If it's September, the Phillies must be making their annual come-from-behind surge in the standings toward a playoff spot. And, on Sunday, they took a sizable leap by sweeping a doubleheader from the reeling Brewers.
By day, Ryan Howard swatted a game-tying homer, Pat Burrell laced a go-ahead single and Shane Victorino broke a 133-at-bat homerless drought with a three-run shot in a 7-3 win. By night, Brett Myers twirled a 95-pitch, two-hit complete game on three days of rest, Jimmy Rollins reached base four times and Burrell went deep for the first time since Aug. 23 in a 6-1 giggler. And after sweeping a four-game showdown with Milwaukee and winning seven of their past 10 games, the Phillies (83-67) have tied the Brewers (83-67), losers of 10 of 14, for the National League wild-card lead. They're also only one game behind the division-leading Mets (83-65) in the NL East.
May the best team win.
Just like last year.
"It's definitely in the back of our heads, what happened last year," Victorino said. "But we have to worry about this year. I don't think we're changing our approach."
Why would they? The Phils have made a habit of September comebacks. Last season, they staged one for the ages, rallying from a seven-game deficit with 17 to play to overtake the Mets, who looked an awful lot like the 2008 Brewers.
"I believe in momentum -- whatever you call it -- attitude, charisma, when you come to the ballpark, everything is OK," manager Charlie Manuel said, trying to express the September mood around the team. "People ain't walking around sulking because they ain't making enough money or something happened at the house."
Said right fielder Jayson Werth, "This puts us in great position the rest of the way. The pieces of the puzzle are starting to connect."
Just like last year.
PHILLIES 7, BREWERS 3 (first game): Pat Burrell laced a go-ahead single and Shane Victorino cracked a three-run home run in an eighth-inning rally in the opener of a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. Joe Blanton tossed seven solid innings for the Phillies in his first quality start since Aug. 24. Ryan Howard blasted a game-tying, two-run homer in the sixth inning, his majors-leading 44th of the season. Victorino's homer was his first in 133 at-bats since Aug. 5 against Florida. Chase Utley broke his own single-season club record by getting hit by a pitch for the 26th time.
PHILLIES 6, BREWERS 1 (second game): Brett Myers, pitching on three days of rest for only the second time in his career, tossed a complete-game, two-hitter to complete a doubleheader sweep and move the Phillies into a tie with the swooning Brewers for the wild-card lead. Myers improved to 7-2 with a 1.80 ERA in 11 starts since his three-week stint in the minors. Jimmy Rollins reached base four times, while Shane Victorino went 4-for-4. The Phillies improved to a season-high 16 games over .500 (83-67) and swept their first doubleheader since Sept. 13, 2006, at Atlanta.
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