Phillies Beat Braves, 10 - 6, But Still 2 Back Of Astros

It's happened a few times this season: Charlie Manuel makes a bad move. Bill Dancy makes an even worse move. An Ed Wade acquisition, like David Bell or Michael Tucker (better yet, David Bell AND Michael Tucker), hits into a key double play.

We start noting these mistakes in our big, collective Phillyist, relishing the opportunity to rip into the team that next morning, even though it won't have an effect on anyone. It's therapeutic, I guess.

But again, it's happened a few times this season: after all of these bad moves, one of the younger guys - the guys that actually make you like this team - steps up and rescues his inept teammates and coaches.

Last night, that guy was Ryan Howard. The first baseman has played so well that we're already upset that Charlie Manuel is starting Jim Thome on Opening Day 2006. Sure, it hasn't happened yet, but it's better to get the anger flowing now.

Howard hit a grand slam homerun in the 10th inning to help the Phillies down the Atlanta Braves, 10 - 6. Howard hit his slam off one of those evil lefthanded pitchers that Manuel tries to hide Howard from.

The Phillies' win was a big one, but with the Astros still beating up on the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Fightin's weren't able to make up any ground on Houston, who still hold a 2-game lead over the Phils in the Wild Card standings.

The series with the Braves concludes this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. when the Phillies send Jon Lieber to the mound to face the Braves' Tim Hudson.