Braves, Giants Win; NLDS Opponent is the Cincinnati Reds

We’re just one short day away from the start of postseason play in Major League Baseball. October baseball. There’s nothing quite like it for the lucky fans whose team is still alive after the grueling 162 game regular season. For the fourth consecutive season, the Philadelphia Phillies finished atop the NL East standings and heading to the postseason. Like every season, there were ups and downs, but what matters ultimately is that the Phillies have put themselves in position to chase their third World Series crown in franchise history. They’ll return to action on Wednesday night against the NL Central winning Cincinnati Reds.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins likes the Phils’ chances to get back to their third consecutive World Series. In fact, Rollins thinks this year’s squad is better than any he’s been a part of, including the 2008 version that won it all. Rollins made that declaration on The Scott Van Pelt Show on Monday.

"We are better. I’ve never had a pitching staff like this. We’ve got the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ as they have been nicknamed. Roy Oswalt has come over and been the pitcher we need him to be. He’s been himself as far as a second half, just unhittable. Big Roy (Halladay), as I call him, he’s the doctor. He goes out there. He performs surgery and he doesn’t leave until surgery is done. And it’s taking pressure off of Cole Hamels who is having a terrific year. He’s got a low three ERA, which is something that I have never seen from him regardless of how good he has been. He has matured. He’s gotten a lot stronger… Our big three are the best in the game right now… It never hurts to get a guy like Doc to come over and inspire guys. His work ethic, the way he goes out there on the mound, the way he pitches. He just goes to school. That’s why they call him the doctor."

Well that was kind of annoying. After making it very interesting (and too interesting for Braves fan(s)), Shane Victorino, Brian Schneider, and Greg Dobbs went down in order to Billy Wagner. This was vintage for the veteran reliever: nasty slider, impossible fastball, and shadows that rendered the left-handed hitters useless against him.

Danys Baez gave up five hits in two-thirds of an inning, surrendering four runs, getting himself tagged for the loss, and pretty much assuring his spot off the playoff roster. He’s been flat-out atrocious this year and there is no way I want him anywhere near the hill in the postseason. JC Romero came out with a back issue, but Amaro went on record as saying he didn’t think it would be a problem going on. Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch on his left elbow, but X-Rays came back negative. He ended the season batting .302, the best average on the team. Good for Chooch.

Jayson Werth hit a home run, his 27th of the season, and John Mayberry hit his second. Due to Mayberry’s slight edge in experience and the lack of right-handed power bats on the bench, I wouldn’t be surprised if J-May made the roster over Domonic Brown.

The Phillies still took two of three from the Bravos, ending their regular season at 97-65, which astounds me even as I type it. Because the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the nightcap of their doubleheader, the Phillies will finish with the best record in baseball, the first time in franchise history. The Braves are at a respectable 91-71 and await the results from the game in San Francisco. According to Todd Zolecki, the Phillies will play the Reds if the Giants win and the Giants would play the Braves. If the Padres win, we won’t know our opponent until Tuesday.

Matt Latos goes for the Padres and Jonathan Sanchez is on the hill for the Giants, who have an early 2-0 lead.

With one inning left, there’s a chance the Phillies scrubs could keep the Braves from the playoffs. Currently sporting a lineup that is without Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz, and Placido Polanco, the Phillies gnawed away at the Braves six-run lead in the 7th and 8th innings. The suddenly hot Ben Francisco and Wilson Valdez (he of the .258 batting average) knocked in five runs in the process. Brad Lidge is on for some work in the bottom of the 8th, having already put two runners on with one out.

There’s a million different scenarios involving the NL West and Wild Card, but the simple fact is if the Braves lose today, they will have to go to a one-game playoff to enter postseason baseball. With the Padres and Giants just underway in San Fran, this is something to keep an eye on while the Eagles game is on.

(Sports Network) - Not even a tribute to future Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox could lift the Atlanta Braves to a victory and closer to a playoff berth.

Cox hopes that this won't be his last game this afternoon when his club tries to get into the postseason and salvage the finale of a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

A Braves win and a loss by the San Diego Padres in San Francisco would secure Atlanta its first postseason berth since the 2005 season. However, a loss combined with a San Diego win against San Francisco would end the year and Cox's brilliant career with the Braves.

But, should the Giants lose to the Padres and the Braves, who are tied with San Diego atop the wild card standings, salvage this set with NL East-champion Philly, San Francisco and San Diego will meet Monday in a one-game playoff for the NL West title at Petco Park. The loser would then visit the Braves on Tuesday to decide the final postseason spot in the National League.

San Diego would play the Braves in a one-game playoff to determine the wild card if both clubs lose on Sunday.

The Braves were hammered, 7-0, in Saturday's second portion of the series despite getting five shutout innings from starter Tommy Hanson. However, sloppy field play and an awful bullpen led to the loss, as losing pitcher Jonny Venters allowed four runs - two earned - in 1 1/3 innings and Takashi Saito was reached for two runs later on in defeat.

"We control our own destiny," Venters said. "We just need to come out tomorrow, play hard. I wasn't real good today. I just left some balls over the plate. I was throwing strikes -- I felt good. I was ahead. I was not putting guys away."

The Braves will rest their hopes on Tim Hudson Sunday and he's aiming for 17 wins in a season for just the third time in his career. He is only 1-4 in his last six starts and did not record a decision in Tuesday's 3-2 win versus Florida. Hudson allowed one run and seven hits in six innings to remain at 16-9 in 33 starts to go along with a 2.76 earned run average.

Hudson, who owns a strong 10-5 record in 17 home starts in 2010, beat the Phillies the last time he faced them on June 1 this season at Turner Field. In the 7-3 victory, Hudson held the Phils to a pair of runs in six innings. He is 5-7 in 17 career starts against the NL East rivals.

Philadelphia already locked down the division for a fourth straight year and homefield advantage, and are just tuning up for the postseason. Raul Ibanez had a pair of hits and drove in two runs, while Shane Victorino ended 3-for-5 with an RBI for the Phillies, winners of three in a row.

Vance Worley tossed five shutout innings in the no-decision and Antonio Bastardo tossed a scoreless sixth inning for the win.

Cole Hamels hopes a few innings Sunday will get him back in the groove for the postseason after he had a personal five-start winning streak stopped last Sunday versus the New York Mets. The Mets touched Hamels for five runs and nine hits in four innings, sending the lefty to the loss column for the first time since August 19.

Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, is 12-11 with a 3.09 ERA in 32 starts this season. He is just 5-5 in 14 road outings and defeated Atlanta on Sept. 20 in south Philly with eight innings of one-run ball. Hamels has faced the Braves 18 times in his career -- all starts -- and is 9-5 with a 4.02 ERA.

Philadelphia leads the 2010 series with Atlanta by a 10-7 margin and swept a three-game series the last time these two clubs met from Sept. 20-22 at Citizens Bank Park.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) – Raul Ibanez had a pair of hits and drove in two runs, and the Phillies capitalized off another error from Brooks Conrad to beat the Braves, 7-0, and deflate Atlanta’s playoff chances.

Conrad, whose poor throw to second led to five unearned runs for Philadelphia in Friday’s series opener, was off the mark on another throw to second base before the Phillies scored four runs in the seventh inning. The Braves, who need to win only one game in this series to assure themselves at least a tie in the wild card race, are now all square with the Padres after San Diego beat San Francisco on Saturday.

The Phillies, meanwhile, clinched at least a share of the league’s best record for the first time in the 128-year history of the franchise.

Vance Worley got the spot start for Philadelphia in place of a resting Roy Halladay and hurled five shutout frames, allowing just a hit and two walks. Antonio Bastardo (2-0) earned the win for throwing a scoreless sixth.

The Braves, who honored outgoing manager Bobby Cox with a lengthy pregame ceremony that included many former players and coaches, managed only three hits in the critical loss.

Tommy Hanson matched Worley with five scoreless innings in the start, but Jonny Venters (4-4) yielded four runs — two earned — on four hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings to take the loss.

(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves will try again to clinch a postseason berth in manager Bobby Cox's final season, as they resume a three-game series tonight versus the NL East-champion Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field.

The Braves are expected to honor their long-time manager before the game and hope the festivities lift the ballclub to a much-needed win. Atlanta leads the wild card by only one game ahead of San Diego, which kept pursuit with a victory over San Francisco last night. A win by the Braves Saturday coupled with a Padres loss to the Giants would clinch a playoff berth for Cox.

Cox hasn't been to the postseason since 2005 and is coming off Friday's 11-5 setback to the Phillies. Brandon Beachy started for Atlanta and suffered the loss for giving up four runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Derrek Lee had a big night go to waste, as he knocked in all five runs and finished 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles.

"It's tough. We didn't play good baseball at all today," Braves All-Star catcher Brian McCann said. "We really didn't do anything good, but we've got to turn the page. We've got two games left."

Tommy Hanson will try to pitch the Braves back into the postseason when he toes the rubber tonight in Dixie. Hanson is 10-11 with a 3.41 ERA in 33 starts this season and has posted back-to-back no-decisions. In Monday's 2-1 win over Florida, Hanson limited the Marlins to a run and five hits over 7 2/3 frames.

The young right-hander tossed six shutout innings in a no-decision at Philadelphia the start before on Sept. 22, and is 1-2 in five career starts against the Phillies. Hanson is 5-5 in 17 home starts in 2010.

Philadelphia has already locked up the division and homefield advantage, but want to make it tough on the division-rival Braves. Jimmy Rollins did just that with a grand slam last night.

"It's still a division rival. No matter how you look at the game, we go out there to win every single ball game," said Rollins, who helped the Phillies move closer to the best record in baseball. "If they make it to the playoffs, it's going to be because they make it, not because we lay down."

The Phillies moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees, who were rained out on Friday in Boston, for the majors' best record for the first time in franchise history. Ryan Howard drove in two runs and Carlos Ruiz ended 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI in the victory.

Phils starter Kyle Kendrick earned the win in his final start of the season, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in five innings.

Taking the mound for Philadelphia tonight will be Vance Worley. Worley is 1-1 with a 2.25 earned run average in four games (1 start) and will face the Braves for the first time in his career. Worley is taking the spot of Roy Halladay so the staff ace can rest for Game 1 of next week's playoffs.

Worley started back on Sept. 6 versus Florida and allowed two runs in five innings of a 7-1 loss. He earned his first career win in relief versus Washington on Sept. 19.

Philadelphia leads the 2010 series with Atlanta by a slim 9-7 margin and swept a three-game series the last time these two clubs met from Sept. 20-22 at Citizens Bank Park. Atlanta is 4-3 in the seven matchups as the host.

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Jimmy Rollins' third career grand slam punctuated a five-run sixth inning, helping the Philadelphia Phillies deal the Atlanta Braves a potentially critical defeat, 11-5, to begin the final series of the regular season at Turner Field.

Rollins, who has been mired with injuries all season, hit just his eighth home run of 2010 for the Phillies, who have locked up the NL East and are in search of the majors' best record for the first time in franchise history. With the victory, Philadelphia moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees, who were rained out on Friday in Boston.

"It's still a division rival. No matter how you look at the game, we go out there to win every single ball game," Rollins said. "If they make it to the playoffs, it's going to be because they make it, not because we lay down."

Kyle Kendrick (11-10) earned the win in his final start of the season, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in five innings.

Derrek Lee drove in all five Atlanta runs, but the Braves missed out on a chance to clinch a share of the NL wild card. Entering the day two games ahead of the Padres, Atlanta's magic number to clinch a postseason berth remains at two after Friday's loss. San Diego plays Friday at San Francisco.

Brandon Beachy (0-2) allowed four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and a walk while fanning five in 5 2/3 frames in defeat. Peter Moylan walked home the go-ahead run, and Mike Dunn allowed Rollins' grand slam.

With the game tied, 2-2, in the sixth, the Phillies moved ahead by taking advantage of an error.

Jayson Werth doubled with one down and was replaced by John Mayberry, Jr. After Raul Ibanez was intentionally walked by Beachy, Greg Dobbs struck out, and the Braves turned to Moylan.

Carlos Ruiz bounced what looked to be an inning-ending groundout to third, but Brooks Conrad's throw to second was off the mark, leaving the bases loaded with two outs. Pinch-hitter Domonic Brown followed by batting back from a 1-2 count to work a walk and force in the go-ahead run in Mayberry.

Atlanta then turned to Dunn to get out of the inning, but Rollins crushed the first pitch he saw just over the wall in left for a grand slam and a 7-2 Phillies lead.

Philadelphia added four runs in the eighth on Ben Francisco's RBI single, Chase Utley's bases-loaded walk and Ryan Howard's two-run single.

Lee's three-run double in the ninth off Mike Zagurski accounted for the final margin.

The Braves jumped on Kendrick for a run in the first.

Jason Heyward drew a one-out walk, and Lee sent a laser double down the right field line with two outs, scoring Heyward without a play at the plate for a 1-0 lead.

The Phillies tied the game in the fourth on consecutive one-out singles by Howard, Werth and Ibanez, with Howard scoring on Ibanez's base hit. After Dobbs struck out, Ruiz sent a single to left-center to plate Werth for a 2-1 Philadelphia advantage.

Beachy drew a leadoff walk to begin the fifth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Consecutive two-out singles from Brian McCann and Lee scored Beachy to the game, 2-2.

"It's tough. We didn't play good baseball at all today," McCann said. "We really didn't do anything good, but we've got to turn the page. We've got two games left."

The Phillies announced their postseason rotation on Friday. Roy Halladay will start Game 1 of the NLDS on Wednesday, while Roy Oswalt will take the mound in Game 2 and Cole Hamels in Game 3...Philadelphia leads the season series, 9-7...The Phillies have won 20 of their last 24 road games...The Braves scored their first first-inning run since September 11...Rollins' last grand slam came on July 25, 2009 against St. Louis...Ruiz finished the game with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI...Phillies starters now have 70 wins this season, the first time the team has accomplished that feat since 1980...Lee recorded his 11th career game with five or more RBI. His career-best is seven, done twice.