PHILLIES NEWS

Out of all the teams in the wild card race, the Phillies have been the hottest of late with 8 wins out of their last 10, and after tonight's sweep-clinching win over the Cardinals they stand just 2.5 games back, after being as far as 7.5 games out as recent as a week ago. This means that in one week the Phillies have gained 5 games on the wild-card leading Reds. How have they done it? In every way you can think of. The defense and pitching have both been solid, and the offense well, it has simply been the Major League's best over the last week. I mean the Phillies are hitting the ball all over the place, and scoring runs in every which way. Long ball, small ball, scoring runs on errors, you name it they've been doing it and doing it well and tonight (Thursday) was more of the same. Although it took them awhile to get started, once they did with 3 runs in the 3rd inning, they didn't stop. Led by 34 year old rookie Chris Coste's 4 hits and 2 RBIs, Chase Utley's 3 hits and 2 RBIs (35 straight games now), and Aaron Rowand's 3 hits, 1 homer, and 2 runs scored, the Phils once again beat up on the Cardinals' pitching staff with 8 runs on 16 hits, this just one night after racking up 18 hits. Perhaps even more fittingly, When the Phil's hitters weren't beating up on the Cardinals pitchers, Phils' starter Cole Hamels was beating up on the Cardinal batters, giving up just 2 runs on 1 hit (A homer by Scott Rolen of all people) while striking out a career high 12 in 7 solid innings of work. As far as I am concerned you can't ask for much better from the Phillies, or much worse from the Cardinals. Now I know they are still 2.5 games back in the Wild Card, so there is not quite reason to celebrate yet, but hey it is good enough me so you know what I am back on the Phillies bandwagon (Not that I ever got off, really I didn't, I mean really I am a diehard fan all the way, seriously I am) . Yeah that's right, playoffs or bust baby! Go Phillies! Well happy trails everyone.