Phillies clinch third straight NL East crown by beating Astros

It may not have gone according to the script at first, but the story ended the same way on Wednesday night as the Phillies danced into the night celebrating their third consecutive division championship.

If the night had gone according to plan Pedro Martinez would have been brilliant in seven innings of work, striking out eight batters and allowing just a couple hits. In reality Martinez struggled with command and was removed after just four innings of work in which he threw over 80 pitches. In those four innings Martinez allowed six hits including two home runs, three earned runs in all, and struck out just two batters.

Kyle Kendrick continued to prove that he may be worthy of a post season spot, picking up the slack replacing Martinez. Kendrick pitched three great innings, allowing just a pair of base hits and striking out four batters. Kendrick would go on to receive the win as the Phillies put together a rally in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Trailing 3-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth inning, things were quiet in Citizens Bank Park. Shane Victorino, the spark plug that he can be, got things started with a single to left field. Chase Utley walked and Ryan Howard, "Mr. September", hit a single to right field to bring home Victorino. With Raul Ibanez up things got crazy.

Ibanez grounded to Astros pitcher Brian Moehler, who thought about trying to get Chase Utley off third base, but decided to throw to second base. Moehler's ill-advised decision would up in center field, allowing Utley to tie the game at three. Howard moved up to third base and Ibanez darted to second base. A Jayson Werth grounder scored Howard to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead, and Ibanez scored on Pedro Feliz double before the inning ended with the home team up 5-3.

In the fifth inning the Phillies used their speed at the top of the order to set up a two run inning. Jimmy Rollins lead off with a triple and scored on Victorino's follow-up triple. Victorino later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ibanez. Ibanez later hit a towering drive to right field, to the second deck, to give the Phillies a 10-3 lead.

The Phillies were cruising to the division title regardless of what would happen down in Atlanta, where the Braves trailed the Marlins 5-0. Atlanta fought back to cut the lead to 5-4, only to have the tying run thrown out at third base after trying to get back after a wild pitch. That out was the final out of the game, as the Braves' loss officially clinched the NL East title for the Phillies. But the Phillies still wanted to handle their own business.

In the ninth inning reliever Scott Eyre replaced Chad Durbin. After recording the first two outs of the inning, Eyre was was taken out of the game by Charlie Manuel, who brought in Brad Lidge to get the final out. Whether it was a symbolic gesture making it known that Lidge is still the closer on this team, or it was a way to boost Lidge's confidence, it was something special to see.

With one pitch Lidge got his former teammate, Lance Berkman, to ground a chopper to first baseman Ryan Howard. Howard scooped the ball and put his foot on first base for the unassisted out and the Phillies started the celebration.