Phils Complete Sweep of First Place Nationals

The Phils weren’t satisfied with just a series win against the first place Nationals, as they came out to play Sunday afternoon and collected a 4-1 win.

It’s the first sweep the Phillies have completed since a sweep of the Brewers a month ago, and the first time the Nats have been swept since they were swept  by the Yankees back in June.

JAYSON WAS WERTHLESS FOR NATS

I hate using that term, but there really is no other way to describe how much the Phils shut Jayson Werth down in this series. He was just 2-12 (.167) in the series with seven strike outs. That definitely made lots of Phils fans happy.

In today’s game, Werth was jogging around the bases on what he thought was a home run, and ended up costing the Nationals a run and an out on the play.

LEE GOOD EARLY ON

If there is one thing we can deduce about Cliff Lee this season, it’s that he is really good in the first five innings. Today was the 8th time this year that he has held opposing team scoreless in first five innings. But then after that, his ERA skyrockets. Today was similar, as he was fantastic through the first five, and then got in trouble in the sixth.

Lee also helped himself out with an RBI double in the fifth to open the scoring.

BETTER BASEBALL

I’m not going to throw any statistics around here, but just judging from what I’ve seen lately from the Phils–they are playing better baseball. Sure, they’ve won 4 in a row, but it’s more than that. They have a different demeanor about them. Imagine what this season would be like if we had seen this type of play from them all season. Hopefully this continues, because even with them nine games out of the Wild Card spot, this is fun baseball that we are used to.

GAME NOTES

With his home run today, Jimmy Rollins is now the active leader on the Phillies.

After a sweep of the first place Nationals, the Phils welcome the Mets tomorrow at 7:05 to finish out the home stand. The Phils will send Vance Worley (6-9, 4.06 ERA) to the mound tomorrow, and Chris Young (3-7, 4.33 ERA) will get the call for the Mets.