Blanton, long ball lift Phillies in series finale

FROM THE MORNING CALL

WASHINGTON -- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel knows the importance of resting some of his key players before the National League Division Series begins Wednesday, but that doesn't mean he can't roll out a potent lineup during the final days of the regular season.

Philadelphia has already secured the best record in the league, so the emphasis now is on making sure his regulars are healthy for another postseason run. At the same time, Manuel also wants to make sure the Phillies keep their recent momentum, and he has the depth to do just that.

In Wednesday night's series finale against the Nationals, right-hander Joe Blanton won his sixth consecutive game and Ben Francisco hit two of the Phillies' four home runs in a 7-1 victory as the club ended September with a major league-best record of 21-6.


"If you keep working long enough, somebody is going to start hitting," Manuel said. "We hit some balls hard, and that was good to see. We got some right-handed hitters who got some pop. Tonight was a good night for them."

Philadelphia (95-64) has won 19 of its last 23 on the road, including eight consecutive series. The Phillies didn't start Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth or Chase Utley, but that didn't slow the offense as Mike Sweeney and John Mayberry also homered.

Blanton (9-6) has not lost since July 21 against St. Louis. He allowed one run (unearned) on three hits with six strikeouts, including three against Adam Dunn, and three walks over seven innings.

Blanton will pitch out of the bullpen for at least the first round of the playoffs because the Phillies plan to go with a three-man rotation of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels,

"It was always good to finish the season on a positive note going into the playoffs," Blanton said. "I've relieved a little bit in the past. It's a little bit different and there is a little adjustment, but at the same time, pitching is kind of pitching."

Washington's Ross Detwiler allowed seven runs on seven hits, including the four home runs, over 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks.

The Phillies took an early 2-0 lead on back-to-back homers by Sweeney and Francisco in the second inning. Mayberry's first home run since June 30, 2009, a three-run shot, increased the lead to 5-0 in the fourth.

"It's good to get some (at-bats) in the last few days here," Francisco said. "All of us were pretty excited to get in there. We've been sitting for a while. I just had a couple of fastballs over the plate."

Washington (68-91) scored its only run came in the fourth when Nyjer Morgan scored on a fielder's choice. Francisco's second home run and sixth of the year increased the lead to 7-1 in the fifth and ended Detwiler's night.

The Phillies won 12 of the 18 against Washington this season, including 5-4 at Nationals Park. The Nationals fell one game short of earning their best single-season home record since coming to D.C. in 2005, finishing the season at 41-40.

Werth entered the game as a pinch-hitter with two outs in the ninth and grounded out.

NOTES: Phillies right-hander Kyle Kendrick will get the start Friday against Atlanta, but the team has not named starters for the remaining two games. Roy Halladay will be skipped, and it appears he will start the first game of the Division Series on Wednesday. … Philadelphia third baseman Placido Polanco, who is battling a bone spur in his left elbow and tendinitis in his left arm, will likely play this weekend against the Braves. … Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg said in a conference call that he expects to start rehab for his right elbow soon after recently undergoing reconstructive surgery.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-phillies-nationals-0929-20100929,0,1610782.story