Utley, Howard Power Phils To Brink Of Playoffs

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, September 26, 2008 10:50 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, if the Phillies win tomorrow, they win the NL East.

Ryan Howard (4 RBI) and Chase Utley (3 RBI) paced the Phils past the Nationals in a 8-4 win. With the win and a Mets loss to the Marlins, the Phils now have a two-game lead in the NL East. With two left to play, a win would secure the NL East title. At the very least, the Phillies will host a one-game playoff Monday for the division championship.

This one was all Howard and Utley. The big man homered in the first inning to set the table. Utley then drove in three with a bases-clearing double in the second. Howard followed him up with an RBI double of his own. Out to a 7-1 lead, the Phils coasted to victory.

Joe Blanton was effective in a very important start. He gave up one earned run in six innings — one scored after a passed ball put him in scoring position; another two advanced on an error by Howard — on five hits and a walk. He was solid. Not dominant, not awe-inspiring, but solid. What we’d expect from Blanton.

The bullpen took care of business late. Scott Eyre had a quick seventh inning; Ryan Madson and JC Romero tag-teamed to sweep the Nats out of the eighth; Brad Lidge sauntered through the ninth with ease. Charlie Manuel was ejected in that inning, arguing an obvious strikeout. No matter. The Phils did their job.

Other things to enjoy: Jimmy Rollins reached base four times; Jayson Werth had two hits to snap a slide; Greg Dobbs began a rally with a double. Tomorrow it’s Jamie Moyer vs. John Lannan for the division.

Associated Press photo

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39 Responses to “Utley, Howard Power Phils To Brink Of Playoffs”

  1. Tim Malcolm Says:

    Having some problems with the Ashburn/Jeltz award. As a note, the Ashburn is going to Ryan Howard.

    Mets announced Santana will pitch tomorrow on three-days rest. The Brewers are leading 5-1 in the eighth.

  2. Justin Says:

    Im not trying to be negative and all, but it seems like Howard has an error every game. do you see this coming to bit us in the ass at some point during the playoffs….Knock on wood we win tomorrow

  3. Tim Malcolm Says:

    I thought the same thing, Justin. But if Howard’s offensive output overshadows his defensive misadventures 2:1 (as it did tonight), I won’t argue too much that he’s a problem.

  4. KM Says:

    Mets lose, Brewers win . . . Either way, Phils are in the driver seat with 2 to go.

    Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to watch the game tonight, but you better believe I was checking the score periodically.

    Glad to hear Blanton pitched a decent game. It seems to me that besides his great start against the Pirates(thanks Tim, haha), Blanton tend to pitch down, or up to his competition. Glad to see he could beat the worst team in baseball rather handily.

    Ryan Howard had a big game. The big guy has really been swinging a hot bat, and just in time for the playoffs. What does the future hold for Howard? Does he wear red pinstripes next season, or do they shop him to avoid paying him?? Could you imagine his numbers if he were to strike out 10% less?? Maybe .275-55-160.

    Either way, big win tonight, let’s finish this up tomorrow and give the big guys a day off.

  5. Ryk Says:

    I agree, Tim. I’ll take him giving up an error every game if he spots us a 3-run lead with a 1st inning bomb.

  6. failsafestyl Says:

    hmmmm…….seems like the phillies are gonna win the division in september once again….too bad we were not around 2 years ago or we wouldve won it then….wait??? We were around then???? and we sucked how much???? Lets go PHills!!! P-H-I-L-L-I-E-S! EAGLES!!!!!….i mean PHILLIES!!! AIte, lets go pick on a minority now

  7. Amanda Says:

    What a game!! Tommorrow should be awesome! GO PHILS!

  8. hoey Says:

    ive got my space reserved on broad street. bob michael is bringing the beer and we shall watch either the phillies world series champs or the girls high field hockey team take to the street

  9. Jeffrey Says:

    I love that, after Cholley gets tossed over the botched non-strikeout call, Lidge threw exactly the same pitch and got the strikeout anyway. Awesome.

  10. Sean M Says:

    With the magic number at one there should be no Steve Jeltz award. I think if Howard hits 50 homers he’ll get the MVP award.

  11. Chris.I Says:

    Lets say the brewers win the wildcard…Would it be the Phils Vs The Brewers, or Phils Vs the Dodgers in the playoffs?

  12. ronathan richardson Says:

    How good is it going to feel when Moyer clinches it for us tomorrow? He’s the most deserving of them all.

  13. NEPA Says:

    Chris – It would be Phils vs. Brewers. 2 teams from the same division can not play each other in the first round.

  14. Chris.I Says:

    Thanks Nepa..Thats what I thought

  15. Rob Cowie Says:

    Clincher , my house, do it

  16. christopher Says:

    what a great night, the phillies win a spectacular game and the mets lose. two more to go and the phillies clinch the division two staight years. what a wonderful thing!

  17. Lewisauce Says:

    I know it’s too much to dream about, but a win today would allow us to start Eaton or Kendrick (or some tailgater in the parking lot) on Sunday, which would give the important players a rest, which would be awesome.

    Go Phils.

  18. Matt Says:

    Brewers are getting hot at the right time…could be dangerous

  19. Gabriel Says:

    exactly what we needed, well, what fat joe needed…
    an early (huge) lead so he could just sit back and collect his 4th win (no losses) with his new team.
    production from the guys you pay to produce, this was simply put the way we should win.
    two more times, lets go phils!

  20. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:

    I just want to give Fox sports and MLB my sincerest thanks for NOT ALLOWING ME TO WATCH THE F”ING GAME TODAY!!! I get the damn Cubs & Brewers!!! ALLL YEAR I WATCH THIS TEAM AND THIS GAME IS BLACKED OUT! I’m REALLY pissed!!!!

    Wiill someone be recording it cause I wanna see it if they clench it – postgame & all!

  21. Rick Bates Says:

    I think they should have a Lottery and pick two fans out each game to pitch if they clinch before tonights game. That be giving back to the fans.

  22. Georgie Says:

    Phillygirl, that sucks BIGTIME. I’m about 60 miles away from Phila and am watching the weather, debating if I want to grab a last minute ticket or stay home and watch on HD. Why are they blacking the game out there?

  23. NEPA Says:

    Lewisauce – That would be a great thing. I would love to see Eaton starting tomorrow. I’d also love to see Golson and especially Marson get a start, I’ll be pretty pissed if Marson is up this whole time and doesn’t get to see a single at bat.

  24. Derek Says:

    Yeah if we clinch today…do you see us resting Hamels to be our game 1 starter for the brewers/dodgers series? Or do they stick with hamels tomorrow and give him the ball in game 2? Plus it would be nice to see marson get a start….but would that send him to arbitration or free agency a year sooner or something?

  25. Tim Malcolm Says:

    I have to scope out locales to watch today’s game. Meaningless Sox/Yanks game gets all the attention today. Remember, Mets on at 1 today. We could be champs before first pitch.

  26. NJ Says:

    Think Happ’ll get the start if tomorrows games meaningless, Eaton’s not returning barring an off-sesaon miracle Darren Howard like re-finding of form or an empty bullpen in need of a veteran arm wheras they need more time to see if Happ can sustain his game at the big league level.

    Maybe Golson gets the start in centre but would be suprised to see Marson start. The kids up to have a cup of big league coffee and anyone have 1 good game with the bat, him starting a game or not is not going to make much difference to how he comes into camp and whether he can win a spot of the team. If tomorrow is meaningless its going to be about assessing which reserve peices can contribute and where the secondary guys will be best placed to maximise the roster.

  27. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:

    Georgie – I think they figure us here in the Midwest all care about the Brewers. Now MLB.tv won’t show the Philly game cause the game time changed for Fox. I guess I can be thankfull its not Boston at least.

    Have a great time if you go to the game!

    NJ – I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that Happ was the alternate starter for Sunday. That’ll be great to let him get a last game in. I doubt we’ll see Eaton either as he being sent a message that the Phil’s no longer need him for anything – not even mop-up duty.

  28. NEPA Says:

    Wait, so is today’s game going to be blacked out on MLB.tv? because they’re showing Red Sox/Yankees here.

  29. NJ Says:

    Apologies if someone has already answered this when last asked but wasn’t Eaton catching in the bullpen a few games back? If that’s true then that’s a sign being sent no-one comes back from.

  30. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:

    NEPA – I believe they will. They have all year long….

  31. NEPA Says:

    Damn, I’m gonna have to use that myp2p site, or find a bar that’s showing the game.

  32. NJ Says:

    Does anyone know a way to access the p2p on mac?

  33. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:

    What is that site? It it like the old redlasso? I’m not so lucky – no bar here will show the Phil’s. All the Easterners around here are NewYorkers..ugh… I feel so alone… :(

    What i don’t get is why Boston/NYY? That has no playoff implications at all. I so dislike those teams….

  34. NEPA Says:

    P2P site – http://www.myp2pforum.eu/mlb-baseball/27921-baseball-today-sept-27-a.html

  35. PhillyGirlinMichigan Says:

    thanx, sweetie!

    Gotta go check on my horses and I’ll be back to watch…

  36. Manny Says:

    Section 420 today! Let’s win this game phillies!

  37. Georgie Says:

    It’s pouring here in Lancaster, so I’m going to stay here and have my own little celebration, hopefully. The Flyers are playing a preseason game at the Spectrum at 1, so I’ll catch that first, then it’s time for the BIG game, but as Tim said, maybe the Mets will have taken care of it by then.

    Manny, we don’t want to see you do that again, dude. jk

  38. KM Says:

    I hope it takes the Brewers until Sunday to clinch the playoff berth, so we don’t have to face Sabathia until game 2 or 3.

  39. Mark Says:

    Way to go Phils. 90 Wins is not 100, but they hit the 90 plateau with every possibility of finishing with 93 wins. Who would have thunk when they were in the July duldroms? But it ain’t over until it’s clinched. Go Jamie! Want to share this;

    It’s 1983, the season that the Phils caught lightning in a bottle winning their last 12 games of the season with Schmidt and Rose, Morgan and Perez. They were in the final game of their 4-1 belting of the L.A. Dodgers — I remember to this day; Richie Ashburn laughing hysterically, almost insanely as the Phils finished off the Dodger to head to the World Series against the Orioles. One of the all-time great Phillies fans moments.

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2009 salaries:

Charlie Manuel - $3 million
Ryan Howard - $19 million
Chase Utley - $15 million
Roy Halladay - $15.75 million (Toronto pays $6 million)
Brad Lidge - $11.5 million
Raul Ibanez - $11.5 million
Jimmy Rollins - $7.5 million
Jayson Werth - $7 million
Cole Hamels - $6.65 million
Jamie Moyer - $6.5 million
Placido Polanco - $5.25 million
Joe Blanton - $5.475 million
Ryan Madson - $4.5 million
J.C. Romero - $4 million
Shane Victorino - $3.125 million
Chad Durbin - $1.635 million
Greg Dobbs - $1.35 million
Ross Gload - $1 million
Brian Schnieder - $1 million
Juan Castro - $750,000
Clay Condrey - $650,000
Chris Snelling - $450,000
Kyle Kendrick - $445,000
Carlos Ruiz - $425,000
Chris Coste - $415,000
Francisco Rosario - $395,000
Mike Zagurski - $392,500
Fabio Castro - $383,000
J.D. Durbin - $380,000
Anderson Garcia - $380,000
Scott Mathieson - $380,000
J.A. Happ - $380,000
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