By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor
A quick look at the calendar tells us that the working man is wrapping up vacation and the kids are going back to school.
The Phillies hitters, apparently, are no different. After seemingly taking the summer off, getting Milt Thompson canned, and costing Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay countless wins, the team’s all-star lineup is getting hot.
For a team that couldn’t hit it’s way out of paper-thin wall prison cell just a week ago, things are changing in a hurry. Ryan Howard and Co. have put up at least five runs in four of its last five contests. And, with the Brew Crew in town this weekend, things should only continue to get better.
Chase Utley celebrates after his 7th-inning capping grand slam in the Phillies 12-11 win in Colorado on Thursday.
The latest outburst came in the 7th inning of Thursday’s one-night series against the Rockies. The Phils, behind home runs by Howard and Jayson Werth, and a Chase Utley grand slam, put up a nine-spot en route to a 12-11 come-from behind win.
After scoring just 23 runs in ten games between Aug. 19 and 28, the Phils seem to be getting it going. They’ve now crossed the plate 30 times in their last five games.
Now just two games behind the Braves, the Phils are in the position they love to be in — chasing the division leader heading into the last month of play. Instead of the Mets, they’re going to send Atlanta and Bobby Cox to September as the Wild Card team.
And, hey, if the Howard, Utley, Werth, JRoll and Co. get on a roll, let’s face it — our summer vacation just continues into October. Does anyone really focus on work during a playoff run? Didn’t think so.
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