--RHP Brett Myers worked out of several jams but tossed seven shutout innings to stretch his scoreless streak to 16 innings. In seven starts since returning from the minors, Myers is 4-1 with a 1.66 ERA and has given up 39 hits (only two home runs) in 48 2/3 innings. In his first 17 starts this season, he went 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA and allowed 115 hits (and 24 homers) in 101 2/3 innings. Myers' biggest moment came in the seventh inning when he escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam by striking out Jeff Kent and getting Manny Ramirez to line to right field. "I knew I had to bear down," said Myers. "Those are their two best power hitters. It's fun when you're in those big situations with a big-time player up. You've got to have that feeling of how to pitch. I didn't have that early in the year."
--RHP Ryan Madson is overexcited these days. During the final two months of last season, he was sidelined by a right shoulder strain. This year, he's healthy again, and since Tom Gordon suffered a season-ending elbow injury last month, the Phillies often have asked Madson to hold the lead in the seventh or eighth inning. Sometimes, like Sunday night, he's overly pumped up for his new role. Madson entered a tie game in the seventh inning and threw a changeup for a wild pitch that allowed Andre Ethier to move into scoring position. Then, he overthrew a cutter that Jeff Kent laced into left field for an RBI single that gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the Phillies' eventual 11-inning victory. "That's one of my issues, that I need to keep myself calm," Madson said. "I missed out last year, and there are times when I'm too charged up because I missed last year. I know they have faith in me, but I have to be careful not to try too hard or let my emotions get the better of me." --RF Jayson Werth set a career high with his 80th hit of the season Monday night. But Werth's biggest play came in the seventh inning when he scored from second base on a slow-rolling grounder to second by Chris Coste. "That was a good piece of baserunning," manager Charlie Manuel said.
--LHP Cole Hamels grabbed a bat and stepped to the plate in the 11th inning Sunday night. The Phillies had little choice, having emptied their bench. Hamels is a .270 hitter this season, but with the winning run on third base, he popped to second on a first-pitch curveball from reliever Jason Johnson. One batter later, Pedro Feliz hit a walk-off, three-run homer. "I think I was a deer in the headlights," Hamels said of his pinch-hit at-bat. "It was exciting, just to hear the crowd and to be in a situation of trying to get that walk-off hit. But I'd definitely rather be throwing at hitters than hitting."
BY THE NUMBERS: 1,342 -- Games played by RF Geoff Jenkins without appearing in a playoff game. The only active players who have played more games without reaching the postseason are the Mets' Damion Easley, the Giants' Randy Winn and the Mariners' Jose Vidro (assuming Vidro is picked up by another team after being released by the Mariners).
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There are definitely guys who come back to the clubhouse and you see the expression on their face. It's like, 'Man, I've got to try to do something.' And they're halfway defeated before they even get up there." -- SS Jimmy Rollins, who has been critical of notoriously tough Phillies fans for not offering their unconditional positive reinforcement for the team.
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