It was only one game, and in the grand scheme of things, it means as much as Hillary Clinton's win in the Pennsylvania primary.
But if the Phillies are trying to send a message to the world champion Boston Red Sox during the teams' three-game series at electric Citizens Bank Park, this was a good way to start.
Phillies 8, Red Sox 2.
The message: The Phillies, leaders in the National League East, have a team the Red Sox may not be so excited to face in October.
Ten pitches into their half of the first inning, the Phillies had a 3-0 lead, and everybody but Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman - lead singers for the locally based Hooters - seemed to have an extra-base hit for the home team.
Bazilian and Hyman gave the night a Philly kind of feeling when they sang the national anthem.
Red Sox rightfielder J.D. Drew, who had been drafted by the Phillies but chose not to sign with them, gave it even more of a Philly kind of feeling when he stepped into the batter's box in the first inning - and the boos could be heard in South Jersey.
Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard gave it a Phillies kind of feeling when they connected for first-inning homers. Ditto Cole Hamels, who would pitch seven-plus terrific innings before departing to a standing ovation from Phillies Nation.
"I know they have very talented players; they're a big market and they can get the best players," Hamels said after improving to 6-1 with a 2.50 ERA in games following a Phillies loss, "but I think we can compete with them any day of the week."
He paused.
"And hopefully we're destined to meet them in the World Series."
The Phils are 5-3 against teams that lead their divisions. Yes, it's a little early to be looking ahead to October matchups, but it is something that adds intrigue to this homestand: three games against the mighty (but injury-plagued) Red Sox, followed by three against the Los Angeles Angels, the leaders of the American League West.
Call it the Phillies' statement week.
"If you want to call it a statement, you can," manager Charlie Manuel said. "It's a good time for us to win some games."
"We had a rough game and let it slip away," he said of Sunday's loss in St. Louis. "Today, I like the way we handled it. I think we definitely bounced back because of what happened [Sunday] - and playing the Red Sox may have had something to do with it."
"It was big for us," catcher Carlos Ruiz said. "It's Boston."
