Phillies clinch 5th straight NL East title
PHILADELPHIA - September 17, 2011
In a season where nothing less than a World Series championship
would be considered a success, there wasn't much of a party on the
field. The Phillies had a been-there, done-that attitude toward
winning the division last year, and this time was no different.
Players ran onto the diamond a bit faster than usual, but they
simply exchanged handshakes, hugs and high-fives as if this was an
ordinary game in April. They did at least put on shirts and hats
proclaiming themselves division champs.
The fans didn't even scream all that loud, even when the Phillie
Phanatic ran on the field with a big flag that said 2011.
Once they reached the clubhouse, however, the Phillies popped
open the bubbly and celebrated their achievement.
With the Four Aces leading the way, the Phillies are seeking
their third NL pennant in four years and second World Series title.
They've taken care of the first step. Now they'll use the 12
remaining games to get ready for the postseason. It's still
uncertain who the Phillies will face in the best-of-five first
round when the NL playoffs begin Oct. 1.
The major league-leading Phillies (98-52) are four wins away
from setting a single-season club record.
Oswalt (8-9) allowed no runs and five hits, striking out seven.
Brad Lidge got one out in the eighth after Michael Stutes ran into
trouble, and Ryan Madson finished with a seven-run cushion.
St. Louis fell 4½ games behind Atlanta in the wild-card race.
They had won eight of nine to narrow the gap from 8½ back on Sept.
6.
Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (12-9) allowed one earned run
and five hits in 3 1-3 innings. He's given up two earned runs or
less in 11 of his 16 road starts this season, but fell to 8-4 away
from home.
Oswalt, Philadelphia's best pitcher down the stretch last year
after coming over from Houston in a trade on July 29, left spring
training as the No. 3 starter behind Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
But he struggled after starting 3-0, and a back injury forced him
to the disabled twice.
The three-time All-Star was vintage Oswalt against the
Cardinals. His fastball reached 94 mph a few times, and he had a
nasty curveball.
Oswalt struck out Skip Schumaker on a 76 mph curve to leave two
runners on in the seventh. All of his Ks came on swings.
Stutes nearly blew a 3-0 lead in the eighth after getting the
first two outs. Four straight singles by John Jay, Albert Pujols,
Lance Berkman and David Freese got the Cardinals within 3-2.
But Lidge came in and retired Allen Craig on a grounder to
second on his first pitch to end the inning.
The Phillies then blew it open with six unearned runs in the
eighth. Carlos Ruiz reached second when his grounder skipped past
third baseman Daniel Descalso for an error. Ruiz went to third on
Jimmy Rollins' one-out single and scored on Shane Victorino's
single up the middle.
After Chase Utley was hit by a pitch, Ryan Howard struck out.
Octavio Dotel entered and Hunter Pence hustled out an infield
single to shortstop Rafael Furcal to drive in another run. Ibanez
then hit his slam to right to put it away.
Pence gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead on an RBI double in the
first. An error by Furcal helped the Phillies add a run in the
fourth. Placido Polanco led off with a walk. Oswalt sacrificed with
one out and Furcal dropped the throw to second. Rollins followed
with a single to load the bases. Victorino walked to force in
Polanco to make it 2-0.
That ended Westbrook's night.
Arthur Rhodes came in and retired Utley on a shallow fly and
Howard on a grounder.
Victorino hit a solo homer off Kyle McClellan in the sixth. He's
been slumping lately, batting just .163 (14 for 86) in his previous
21 games.
Oswalt likely will be the fourth starter in the postseason after
Halladay, Lee and Cole Hamels. Rookie Vance Worley would go to the
bullpen, despite an 11-2 record.