The odds are still daunting to say the least but the Phils are making these last few weeks of the regular season interesting. With eleven games remaining the Phils won their eighth straight game at home, a 6-2 victory over visiting Atlanta, to cut their deficit for the final Wild Card spot to three games.
Don't get your hopes up.
The math is there but the probability isn't encouraging.
Last night the Phils only managed six hits against Atlanta, but four of these were solo home runs, the most dingers the Phils produced in one game all season. Ryan Howard homered for the third straight game. Chase Utley, Kevin Frandsen and Chooch also homered.
The real star of the game, however, was Kyle Kendrick, who won his tenth game of the season and would be the hands-down winner for Comeback of the Year player if the voting started after July 4th. The new Kendrick has been the key pitcher throughout this late run to respectability. Stepping into the fourth spot in the rotation, he has been a bulldog. Every time he goes out the Phils believe (and usually do) they will win.
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The night also marked the start of the final series appearance in Philadelphia by the Braves Chipper Jones, President for Life of the NAPK, the National Association of Phillies Killers. Jones has had a remarkable, Hall of Fame career, propelled in no small measure by his gaudy numbers against the Phils.
So long, Chipper. We won't miss your sweet swing here, but we will elsewhere.
