Final stretch

The Phillies took the first game against the Wild Card-leading Brewers tonight, 6-3. For the optimists out there, the win means the Phils still somehow control their own destiny for the final two weeks of the season. If they win their last 15 games, at worst, they will tie for a Wild Card slot.

Back to reality: The win places them three games behind the Mets for the division and three games behind the Brewers for the bonus slot - Ed Wade's Astros are also three games out. It's a tough slog, and they'll need to dip into their 2007 moxie to pull this out, something they've hardly done in 2008.

The one exception has been Jamie Moyer. Not his best performance tonight, but what do you expect from a gutsy 45-year-old who took the ball on three days rest. He gave up three earned on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Hopefully, young Cole Hamels took some notes on what it means to be a championship-caliber pitcher.

The offense - including a suicide squeeze by Carlos Ruiz - clicked tonight, which was a good thing for the playoff chances of the Phils and the SoxandPhils fantasy team. In our first playoff match-up, we're killing on offense but struggling on pitching. Our opponent had Ben Sheets, who was roughed up tonight.

Red Sox: They got a blow after being schooled by the first-place Rays this week.