By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor

This wasn’t the way the Phillies marketing department drew up Fan Appreciation Day. Sending the fans home with a fourth straight division title was on the menu, but the Phils hitters and staff ace 1A Cole Hamels couldn’t deliver.

Hamels, who has been stellar this year including the last five games when he posted a .49 ERA, had one of those days at the office in Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the Mets. The guy who’s been pitching like the 2008 World Series MVP lasted just four innings after surrendering five runs.

Carlos beltran actually earned a day's pay in smacking two homers, one against Cole Hamels, as the Mets downed the Phillies, 7-3.

The Phils offense did their usual part — they failed to show up with Hamels on the mound. The Fightins mustered just three runs off of nine hits. They rocked Pat Misch for seven hits in 4.1 innings, but couldn’t cash the baserunners in for runs at the Bank.

While the Phillies were busy losing their final home series to the rival New York Suckers Mets, the Braves were doing their part by falling to Livan Hernandez and the Nationals, 4-2.

As it stands, the Phillies magic number for clinching the division is just one game.

Maybe this is just the way it was supposed to be. Roy Halladay wanted to come to Philly for the chance to play meaningful baseball in September and October. He now gets to go for win No. 21 — and rack up more Cy Young Award credentials — while trying to clinch the division title.

If you don’t think Halladay — staff Ace 1 — will be hyped and focused, you haven’t followed him this season.

Maybe losing today is just the baseball Gods’ way of painting a poetic scenario for the most unheralded ace in baseball the last decade. Now, he’ll get a chance to win something while on the mound.