Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - Phillies Top Braves Again, 5-4; Leapfrog Houston in Wild Card Chase

The Phillies continued their resurgence with a tense 5-4 victory over Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park tonight. Aaron Fultz received credit for another victory, pitching a perfect 6th after Gavin Floyd gave up four runs in five innings, the final two of which involved major problems. Floyd eluded trouble in the 4th, but didn't in the 5th, caving in and allowing four runs, temporarily granting Atlanta a 4-2 lead. Fultz's perfection was preserved by a Web Gem-esque sliding catch by Pat Burrell in left, in which he carved out a divot in the left-field turf (which he then carefully resodded). The Phillies pounded out 13 hits, to 8 for Atlanta.

Fultz is now 4-0 in relief; Atlanta middle reliever Blaine Boyer fell to 2-2; Jason Thomson had started for Atlanta, and identically with Floyd, yielded four runs in five innings. The difference was that the Phillies' bullpen held down the fort for the rest of the game, shutting the Braves out. Atlanta's bullpen gave up a single run, and that was the difference maker.

Billy Wagner recorded his 34th save in the 9th, giving up one hit. However, he struck out two, including pinch-hitter Chipper Jones, for the second out of the inning. (Wagner owns Jones - Chipper is now 1-15 against Wagner lifetime, one mere single to contrast with 11 strikeouts.)

Heroes tonight:

Kenny Lofton - 3/3, 2 R, RBI, before ironically being pinch-hit for by Jason Michaels;
Chase Utley - 2/3, walk, double, 2 RBI
Ryan Howard - awesome. 2/4, 2 R, RBI on a solo HR

Two of the aforementioned Phillies scored critical runs on close plays at the plate. Lofton, although he's lost a step since his mid-1990s peak, was able to score from first on a double hit by Utley in the 5th, knotting the game at 4. Howard, although much younger, is quite slow, but managed to score from second, on a single by Mike Lieberthal in the 6th with two outs - and it turned out to be the game-winning run. The Phillies now led 5-4, and neither club scored the rest of the way.

Right fielder Jeff Francoeur's throw - since he undoubtedly didn't think Howard would challenge him - threw the ball well-wide of the plate and behind Howard, who didn't need to slide. Ironically, the throw was so inaccurate that Lieberthal, properly trying to take second on the throw, was thus trapped in no-man's-land between first and second, and tagged out in a superbly executed rundown. But fortunately, it didn't matter.

Jimmy Rollins extended his hitting streak to 19 games, the longest by a Phillie since Len Dykstra hit in 23 straight back in 1990. It tied two streaks by Larry Bowa, in the category of the longest by a Phillies shortstop. (Chris Wheeler noted on the air that Rollins took great pride in erasing Bowa's records while Bowa managed the club from 2001-2004, often teasing him, "That didn't take long, did it?" when he had shattered another of the skipper's marks as a player.)

Standings-wise, the Phillies gained another game on the Braves, now trailing by six games with 17 to play. It was the Phillies' 3rd consecutive victory after dropping five straight last week. The Braves' magic number remained at 13, with Florida defeating Houston.

Other NL Games of Interest

Florida defeated Houston, at Minute Maid Park, for the second straight night. This meant that the Phillies - who trailed the Astros by 2 1/2 games after being swept by them last week - have now overtaken Houston once again, by half a game.

The Marlins won, 4-2, behind a strong effort from Josh Beckett (14-8), and Todd Jones collecting his 37th save (his 27th in a row). Homers from Carlos Delgado and Paul LoDuca made the difference. Wandy Rodriguez (9-8) took the loss for Houston, although giving them a chance to win.

Washington clung to its slim hopes, by beating the collapsing Mets at Shea Stadium, 4-2. Reliever Gary Majewski (4-3) won it; Tom Glavine (10-13) took the loss; Chad Cordero recorded his 45th save. Former Phillie Marlon Anderson hit a solo HR for New York.

At the close of Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 17 Phillies games remaining

NL East

Atlanta...................................83-62 ---- (Magic number 13)
Florida................................... 78-67.....5
Philadelphia.......................... 77-68.....6

NL Wild Card

Florida...................................78-67..... ---
Philadelphia..........................77-68..... 1
Houston................................ 76-68..... 1.5
Washington.......................... 74-71..... 4

Back of the Pack

Milwaukee........................... 72-72..... 5.5
Chicago................................. 72-73..... 6
New York............................. 71-73.....6.5 (it's over for them)