--RHP Brett Myers made his most important start in nearly two years Friday night and stifled the division-leading Mets. He allowed three hits and struck out 10 in eight shutout innings and carried the Phillies to a had-to-have-it, 3-0 victory that sliced their deficit in the National League East to two games. It was a clutch performance from a pitcher who, at midseason, was a lost cause. To review: On July 1, when he agreed to take a three-week, confidence-seeking mission to the minors, Myers was 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA and had served up a majors-leading 24 home runs in 17 starts. Since his return, he's 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA, second-best in the majors behind only the Brewers' CC Sabathia. The Phillies tried to acquire Sabathia in July. Instead, they've rediscovered Myers. "I've seen him pitch great the past four years," manager Charlie Manuel said, "but this is the best this year." Added 3B Greg Dobbs, "He has become the top-tier pitcher that everybody knew he was. I couldn't be happier for him because he knew it was there, we all knew it was there. To accomplish this now, when we need it most, says a lot about his character."
--INF Tadahito Iguchi could've signed a three-year contract with the Phillies last December, but he would've been required to move to third base from his natural second. So, he opted for a one-year contract with the Padres. But Iguchi wound up back with the Phillies anyway, signing a major-league contract Friday after being released by San Diego earlier in the week. Iguchi, 33, will be used as a pinch-hitter off the bench. He missed almost two months with a separated right shoulder and batted only .231 with two homers and 24 RBIs in 81 games for the Padres. Last season, Iguchi batted .304 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 45 games for the Phillies after being acquired in a trade in July to fill in for injured 2B Chase Utley. "He can bunt, and every now and then, he has some pop," manager Charlie Manuel said. "More than likely, he'll put the ball in play. He knows how to play the game right." --OF Greg Golson successfully stole a base as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning Wednesday night in his major-league debut in Washington. But with two outs in a 5-5 game, pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs at the plate and the Nationals calling a pitch-out, Phillies first-base coach and stolen-base guru Davey Lopes didn't want Golson running. "He didn't get thrown out, but what if he did?" Lopes said Friday. "We'd lose a pinch-hitter or we would put in (Dobbs), who's not as good defensively late in the game. I was shocked when he ran, to be honest. He didn't see the pitch-out, so right there, that's not a good thing. We discussed it. It was not a situation he should be running on. You don't just come in the game and say, 'I'm going to run.' I want him to become a student of it. I'm just glad it worked out like it did." Golson said he thought he had a green light from manager Charlie Manuel. Golson stole 23 bases this season, but Lopes said he can steal twice as many if he learns the craft instead of relying solely on his speed.
--3B coach Steve Smith began serving a two-game suspension and was fined an undisclosed amount for arguing with umpires Chris Guccione and Bill Welke last Friday at Wrigley Field. Smith was ejected for joining an argument across the field when Ryan Howard was called out by Guccione on a close play at first base in a loss to the Cubs. Television replays indicated that Howard was beat the throw from off-balance 1B Derrek Lee to Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija. Smith was suspended for three games last season after an argument with Welke.
BY THE NUMBERS: 11 -- The number of shutouts by the Phillies pitching staff. That number leads the National League through games of Sept. 5.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think our guys, especially the ones that were here last year and the veteran guys on our team, I think they know what we have to do and what's at stake. And I think we know how we're supposed to handle it." -- Manager Charlie Manuel, on his team's thoughts during a showdown series with the Mets.
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