"It was one of those things where you weren't sure where you stand," said Happ, who got a warm ovation as he left Monday night's game in the seventh inning. "You get sent down, and they say they want you want to get your innings in and get ready for the season. It's all a little vague, and you don't know where you're at exactly. So, it's constantly trying to prove yourself to show them you belong here."

Happ has proven at least that much. He's 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in four starts for the Phillies, and after going 8-7 with a 3.60 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 135 innings for Class AAA Lehigh Valley, he collected the Paul Owens Award as the Phillies' Minor League Pitcher of the Year before Tuesday's game.

Barring injury, Happ isn't eligible for the postseason roster, but he has pitched himself into consideration for a spot in the rotation next year.

"I'm doing everything I can to put myself in a position to go all the way with these guys," Happ said. "But to get that response from the fans when I left the game last night, again, it was just overwhelming."

BRAVES 3, PHILLIES 2: Cole Hamels pitched seven innings for the 24th time in 33 starts, but he allowed a solo homer to Casey Kotchman in the sixth inning of a loss at Citizens Bank Park. Hamels committed a costly throwing error on an attempted pickoff throw in the third inning that led to a Braves run. The Phillies mustered six hits and stranded six runners, including three in the third inning. Pat Burrell's RBI double drew the Phillies within a run in the sixth. But he followed by making a baserunning blunder, breaking from second base on a grounder and getting tagged out between second and third. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard had two hits apiece for the Phillies.