PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils finished off their 3 game set with the Padres tonight and began the month of May in encouraging fashion. Ex-Padre Adam Eaton got the start against Ex-Phillie Randy Wolf and in the battle of the exes neither came out on top as both allowed 2 runs in 6 innings, Eaton on 5 hits and Wolf on 6 hits. So it came down to a battle of the bullpens and not surprisingly the Phils bullpen prevailed allowing 0 runs on 0 hits in 3 innings, while the Padres bullpen allowed a run on a hit in 2 innings. Now onto the game. For the second night in a row, Adrian Gonzalez got things started by crushing a 2 run homer for a 2-0 Padres lead. In the bottom of the 3rd inning Shane Victorino, back in the lineup at last, doubled and scored on a double by Ryan Howard. Pat "the bat" Burrell then plated Howard with a double of his own to tie it up at 2. In the bottom of the 8th, Howard struck again this time with a towering solo homer to right field for a 3-2 Phils lead. Finally, in the 9th Brad Lidge put the Padres down in order for his 7th save in 7 attempts and a 3-2 Phils win. So the Phils improve to 16-13 overall and don't look now but the Phils are now first in the NL East. That's right folks their magic number is only 133. believe it!