The Phils are on fire

Somebody call 911. The Phillies are on fire.

One night after blowing out the Cubs, 10-1, in an offensive onslaught, the Phils proved they can do more than occasionally bludgeon an opponent into submission.

Instead, the Phils got strong pitching from starter Joe Blanton and a series of relievers in holding the Cubs to a single run.

The problem was that the night after they put double digits on the board, the Phils could only muster a single run themselves.

And that’s the way it stood – right up until Jayson Werth stepped into the batter’s box with two men on in the 13th inning.

Game-winning, walk-off, three-run dinger. It was the first walk-off homer of Werth’s career.

That’s 10 straight wins for the red-hot Phils.

Winning’s not the only consistent aspect of what’s going on down at Citizens Bank Park. So is the dizzying motion of the turnstiles.

The place was packed again last night. Somebody forgot to tell Phillies’
fans there is a recession going on.

There were 45,214 “phan-atics” jammed into the park last night. That makes 39 sellouts so far this year in 47 home games. They have now surpassed the 2 million mark in attendance. Last year they drew more than 3 milion and appear well on their way to shattering that mark this season.

No doubt this afternoon’s finale with the Cubbies will make it an even 40 sellouts. Fans are even gobbling up the standing-roon-only tickets for most home games.

The Phils continue to lead the NL East by 6 and a half games. Their pitching looks solid, their hitting timely. And we haven’t even mentioned the name of Roy Halladay yet.

It’s enough to make you forget the Eagles start training camp Sunday in Allentown.

There was a time when Lehigh became the place to be as soon as the Eagles hit town.

Not anymore.

All eyes are on Citizens Bank Park.

Mother Nature hasn’t provided much in the way of heat this unusually cool summer. The Phils are intent on supplying plenty of their own.

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