Sept. 21 -- EIGHTH WONDER

BY SCOTT LAUBER

MIAMI -- So, after the final out had been recorded last night and the Phillies had won for the eighth time in nine games, I asked Greg Dobbs whether he took greater satisfaction from his game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning or his defensive play in the eighth that cut down the would-be tying run at home plate.

"You know," Dobbs said, "there's something about playing in this stadium. You want to be able to shut their offense down because when it gets going, it's pretty damn scary. So, to be able to squash that run at the plate was probably even bigger for me than the go-ahead single."

Clearly, though, they were both huge plays.

The Mets lost last night. So did the Brewers. Thus, the Phillies (87-68) were able to leapfrog the Mets (86-68) and retake first place by a half-game. They're also three games ahead of the free-falling Brewers (84-71) in the race to win the safety net known as the wild card. So, it seems, the only drama in the season's final week will be whether the Phillies win the division or the wild card. Merely making the playoffs now seems like a foregone conclusion. Let's do the math: The best the Brewers can do is 91 wins. So, the Phillies magic number to clinch a playoff spot over Milwaukee is 5. The best the Mets can do is 94 wins. So, the Phillies magic number to clinch the division is 8.

***
Don't look now, but eighth-inning reliever Ryan Madson has pitched 10-2/3 scoreless innings. Madson was the picture of calm last night after Jorge Cantu singled and Mike Jacobs doubled to open the eighth inning. Dobbs made his clutch play to get Cantu at home (he may have been safe) before Madson got Josh Willingham to ground out and fanned Cody Ross to end the inning and preserve the 3-2 lead.

"I looked behind me and saw I had a good infield that could make the plays," Madson said. "Luckily enough, I just got a ground ball to Dobber. Those two ground balls were huge."

***
Mike Schmidt dropped by before the game and said he's a good-luck charm. And, no surprise, J.A. Happ will start Monday night against the Braves.

***
Who's your NL MVP? Is it Ryan Howard? He's getting consideration from voters. In our Sunday baseball notes, we look at Howard's competition in a race that will be as closely contested as the presidential election.

More in a bit from Dolphin Stadium. Enjoy your Sunday.