Dan Fione created the "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" Phanatic. The cool use of buttons make it one of my favorites. In his first season with Philadelphia, Roy Halladay threw a perfect game and won 20 games. Last night in D.C., he made it 21 with a two-hit shutout of the Nationals. And, oh yeah, the Phillies clinched their fourth straight division title. Halladay, who looked locked in, threw just 97 pitches on the way to his ninth complete game of the season and his first ever chance at play-off baseball. October baseball is the reason Halladay looked to be traded to Philadelphia.
Jayson Werth was the offensive engine, driving in four with a homer, double, and single. The Phillies added four more runs in the 9th. Rain started falling in the 2nd and continued throughout the game but it did not stop Halladay or the thousands of Phillies' fans who had made the trip down 95 to watch history. The Phillies are now only the third NL team ever to win four or more consecutive division titles.
What caught my eye were the champagne bottles waiting in tubs in the clubhouse. The labels featured baseball stitching, the Phillies name, and back-to-back-to-back printed on them. Pretty cool.
Congratulations to all on a tremendous season--despite the many injuries and fits and starts along the way. As Halladay said after the game, "It was fun but it's only gonna get funner." Not only did the Phillies clinch first in the NL, but also they clinched home field advantage throughout. In early July, who'd have thought that would happen? In September the Phillies are now 20-5.
