This is beginning to look like divine intervention. The Phillies, who appeared dead in the water just a few weeks ago. won their sixth straight last night, and in the process pulled to within four games in the Wild Card race.
That’s because all the other teams they are chasing lost. The Cardinals continued their swoon, falling to the Padres. The Pirates are in full implosion mode, dropping their fifth straight, falling to the Reds. The Bucs have now lost 22 of their last 31. The Dodgers got shut out by Arizona, 1-0.
The only team that won is the Brewers, who are tied with the Phils, four games out of that coveted second Wild Card spot.
In gutting out a tense, 9-7 win over the Marlins, the Phils scratched their way back to the .500 mark - at 71-71 - for the first time since June 4. It’s hard to believe at one time in July this team was 14 games under .500.
The Phils managed to win last night despite a fairly ordinary start from Roy Halladay, who gave up five runs on seven hits over six and a third innings, and a shaky night from their bullpen. It's positively inspirational.
They have 20 games left. Four games back. This is not longer miracle territory. Sure, there still a long shot. But anything can happen.
Instead of grumbling about Andy Reid’s play-calling, we’re scoreboard watching with meaningful baseball again.
So what do you say? Is this for real, or just another cruel mirage?
Are you ready for another case of Phillies Phever?
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