PHILLIES NEWS

Today was without a doubt the biggest game of the season for the Phils. Lose, and they would fall to 5 games back in the wildcard and face long odds to make the playoffs, but win and they would be right back in it at 3 games back. Thanks to an offensive explosion through the first 5 innings. All told, the Phils racked up 14 runs on 17 hits in those 5 innings. Ryan Howard, and Chris Coste each crushed 3 run homers, Jayson Werth racked 5 hits and 4 RBIs, Aaron Rowand pounded 3 hits and 2 RBIs, and Pat Burell collected a hit and an RBI. By the time the 6th inning began the Phils led 14-1. They never looked as rookie sensation Kyle Kendrick went 6 solid innings allowing just 1 run on 6 hits. Then in 7th, in his Phils debut, John Ennis came in and wound up pitching the final 3 innings in 1 run, 4 hit fashion, as the Phils won going away 14-2 to improve to 67-62 overall. The win boosts them as mentioned, to within 3 games of the Padres in the wildcard, and 6 games of the Mets in the NL East. Thus, life is beautiful again.