PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils came into tonight needing a win to take their series from the Nats. As usual it was a close game that came down to the very end. This time with their ace, Cole Hamels on the mound, the Phils prevailed. Carlos Ruiz slammed a 2 run homer in the 2nd inning, for an early 2-0 Phils lead. Meanwhile, Hamels shutout the Nats for the first 6 and 2/3rd innings, allowing just 4 hits while striking out 6. After allowing a leadoff double to Austin Kearns, and a 2 out bunt single to Nook Logan, in the 7th inning, Hamels needed Antonio Alfonseca to come in and strike out Felipe Lopez to end the inning and keep Washington off the board through 7. By the time the Nats finally scored a couple runs off Tom "Flash" Gordon in the bottom of the 8th, it was too late, as the Phils had already scored two more to go ahead 4-0, as Jimmy Rollins walked and scored on a fielder's choice in the 7th, and Jayson Werth doubled and scored on a double by Greg Dobbs in the 8th. Thus, the Nats still trailed by 2, and Brett Myers made sure they didn't get those 2 runs in 9th, retiring Nook Logan, Robert Fick, and Felipe Lopez in order. So the Phils won 4-2, and improved to 64-56, just 3 games behind the Mets in the NL East, and still 1 behind the Padres in the wildcard. Life is thus beautiful again.