It was business as usual for the Phillies. They cruised through another mediocre team, with one minor hiccup, to sweep the Reds with a 6-4 win. It was the first time since May of 1916 that the Phils have swept a four-game series in Cincy.
Ryan Howard mashed his 30th home run of the season, guiding the Phillies to their National League leading 87-46 record. The Phillies now sit 41 games about .500, something they haven’t done in well over 30 years. They can play .500 baseball the rest of the way and still tie their franchise record 101 wins.
Vance Worley was seemingly breezing his way through the Reds order until he hit a bit of a snag in the 7th inning. He went 6-plus innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out seven. Six of those K’s came by way of punch-out.
Heading into 7th inning with a 6-1 lead, Worley gave up a lead-off double to Drew Stubbs and a single by Ryan Hanigan before Chris Heisey’s pinch-hit three-run homer made it a 6-4 game and chased Worley from his start.
Michael Martinez hit a two-run homer in the top of the 7th that gave the Phillies a 6-1 lead. At that moment, the homer seemed meaningless but now proved to be important in Worley notching his 10th win of the season.
2B: Pence (31). HR: Howard (30), Martinez (3).
WP: Worley (10-1). LP: Leake (11-9). S: Madson (26).
TTB 