Brett Myers took his third turn in the rotation since being recalled from a minor league stint where he was optioned to refind his “mojo”.  Myers was coming off seven shut out innings in his last start against the Nationals.   Super hot Ryan Ludwick doubled against Myers in the second frame and was plated by a Troy Glaus single.  Ludwick touched all four bases again in the fourth as he hit a ball way up into the cheap seats in left field for his 27th home run, a solo shot.

Meanwhile Todd Wellemyer was cruising as the Cardinals starter as he held the Phillies scoreless thru five frames.   Chase Utley got the Fightins on the board in the sixth as he belted his 28th home run of the season to make the score 2 to 1.   Both Wellemeyer and Myers were pulled after six frames for pinch hitters, each pitched very effectively by keeping their respective clubs in a close game.

The Phillies threatened in the seventh getting two runners on but Tony Larussa used two pitchers from his bullpen to get out of the jam without allowing a score.  In the eighth the Fightins tied the score as Pat Burrell plated Utley with a key two out single.  Shane Victorino then hammered a three run home run to score Ryan Howard and Burrell.   The Flying Hawaiin has been clutch since the all-star break! 

Chad Durbin pitched a scoreless seventh for the Phillies but was tagged for a leadoff single by pinch hitter Brendan Ryan  in the eighth and J.C. Romero was summoned into the game.  Romero balked the runner to second, Ryan then advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on a ground ball error by Ryan Howard.  Romero then hit Joe Mather to conclude his evening.  Ryan Madson became the third Phillies hurler of the inning and he proceeded to walk Albert Pujols on four pitches to load the bases for Ryan Ludwick.  Ludwick hit the first pitch on the ground to third base for an around the horn double play to end the inning!  A real heart thumper of an inning for Phillies fans! 

Brad Lidge came on to pitch the ninth as was immediately greeted by Troy Glaus with a home run off the left field foul pole.  After a fly out to right field Aaron Miles then slapped a single to left, pinch hitter Rick Ankiel singled to right and Cesar Isturis was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Lidge then struck out the next two hitters to end the game!  Another nail biter of an inning!

The Fightins are now 50-0 when leading after eight innings and Brad Lidge has converted 28 saves in 28 opportunities albeit this one was hairy!  The second place Marlins lost as did the third place Mets so the Phillies increased their lead on both rivals.

Chatter

 Shane Victorino was given the start off as Jayson Werth began in center field and Geoff Jenkins got the right field start.  Victorino came into the game as a pinch hitter for Jenkins in the seventh inning.   John Maine was put on the 15 day disabled list for the rival Mets and closer Billy Wagner was sent back to New York early from Houston for an MRI on his left shoulder.  The Mets appear wounded but the Phillies cannott afford to relax as the Marlins appear to be in it to the end and the Mets, albeit wounded now,  have  kicked our tails in head to head games thus far.  So Taguchi got another standing ovation in his pinch hit appearance, he gets a greeting in Philly but the noise is a bit different.  Taguchi hit over .400 for the Cards last year pinch hitting but is below the Mendoza line in the role for the Fightins!