PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils went for the sweep of the Marlins tonight as Roy Oswalt took the mound for his 2nd start as a Phil. Oswalt was great this time around allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 5 in 6 and 1/3rd innings. Unfortunately the Phils failed to support him at all. In fact, both team were still scoreless heading into 7th. There, Carlos Ruiz finally gave the Phils a lead with a 2 run double, buut it was short-lived. Neither J.C Romero nor Jose Contreras could hold of the Fish as they rallied for 4 runs and a 4-2 lead through 7. After that neither team could come up with anything in the 8th, setting the stage for a wild 9th. In the Phils 9th, Hanley Ramirez committed a throwing error to start the inning and the Phils capitalized by putting together a 2 run rally to knot it up at 4.

They actually had runners at the corners with 2 nobody out and the scored tied at 4 at one point, but Raul Ibanez was cut down at 3rd on a fielders's choice and Jayson Werth got picked off, while Dominic Brown was thrown out stealing. In the home half of the 9th Ramirez reached base and got in scoring position but he was not able to score, largely because a line drive by Gaby Sanchez was ruled foul although it appeared it might have been fare. Saved by the umpire, Ryan Madson recovered to get Sanchez and eventually retire the side. Finally in the top of the 10th, Carlos Ruiz jacked a solo homer for a 5-4 lead. Brad Lidge then held off the Fish in the bottom of the inning for the important win. With the win the Phils remain 2 games back in the NL East and move to within 1.5 games of the NL wildcard. They also to move to 12 games over .500 for the first time all season. So things are looking up for the banged up the Phils and they just need to keep it going.