PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils were 1 strike away from losing to the Brewers today and completing a humiliating 3 game sweep. Adam Eaton had been touched up for 6 runs on 9 hits in only 4 and 2/3rd innings of work and the Phils had been held to just 1 run on 6 hits through 8 innings. Heading into the 9th, the Phils trailed 6-1 and appeared to be dead in the water, but then Wes Helms reached on an error and Jayson Werth crushed a homer, and suddenly the lead was down to 6-3. Still, when the next 2 batters, Chris Coste and Carlos Ruiz, hit weak flyouts all hope seemed lost yet again, but the Phils didn't give up. Jimmy Rollins worked a walk, then after falling behind two strikes to none Tad Iguchi slapped a single. Pat Burrell worked another walk to load the bases, and Ryan Howard got plunked to force in another run, cutting the lead to 6-4. Next Mr.clutch, Aaron Rowand punched a ground ball to 3rd baseman Ryan Braun who booted it, allowing Iguchi and pinch runner, Chris Roberson to score and tie the game at 6. Just Like that, the Phils had stunned Milwaukee with 5 runs in the 9th inning and they weren't done yet. In the 11th inning a 2 out double by Wes Helms put the Phils ahead 8-6 and an adventurous save by Jose Mesa in bottom of the inning closed it out. So the Phils won dramatically, 8-6, to improve to 58-53. However ,the Mets, behind Tom Glavine's 300th, won today as well, so the Phils remain 5 games behind them. Still, life is beautiful again.