PHILLIES NEWS

Thanks to another game that was washed out earlier this season and the Phils and Marlins engaged in a Labor Day, day - night doubleheader. In the day game Vance Worley got his first career start and was solid, allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 in 5 innings. Unfortunately he got no run support as the Phils just came out flat offensively. Somehow Worley and the bullpen managed to keep them in it with the score 2-0 through 7. Unfortunately Chad Durbin and Mike Zagurski each allowed late runs in the 8th and 9th as the Fish rolled to a 7-0 lead. Finally in the home half of the 9th, Jayson Werth singled home Ryan Howard to at least avert the shutout but that would be all the Phils would get as they fell 7-1.

In the night game Roy Oswalt toughed out 7 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits, while striking out 7. The Phils meanwhile, only scored in 2 innings but in the end that was just enough. In the 2nd inning, Carlos Ruiz walked in one run, Shane Victorino singled in a second run, Placido Polanco doubled for 2 more runs, and finally Chase Utley singled to score Polanco for a 5-1 lead. Later in the 5th with the lead down to 5-4, Utley singled to score Polanco again and Raul Ibanez doubled in Utley to extend the lead to 7-4. Thanks to Oswalt, Ryan Madson, and finally Brad Lidge in the 9th, that was enough to win the night cap 7-4. With the win and a loss by the Braves earlier in the day the Phils are now just .5 games down in the NL East. They're also now just 1.5 games up in the wild card race.