"That's what we were thinking about when we acquired Roy [Oswalt]," Charlie Manuel said. "It gives us three starting pitchers who we feel give us a chance to win the games when they pitch."
Sunday marked the 15th shutout victory for the Phillies this season, the franchise's most since 1967. Halladay, Hamels and Oswalt have started 12 of those games.
In the 13 starts made by the Big Three since Oswalt's debut July 30, the Phillies are 9-4. In nine of those starts, the trio of aces has allowed three earned runs or fewer. (Two of those losses were 1-0 games started by Hamels.)
The Phillies are 4-1 when Oswalt has started for them. The righthander has won three consecutive starts for the first time since September 2008. That's not to say Oswalt has become a better pitcher. (His 2010 ERA stands at 3.22, a shade below his career 3.24.) He's just on a winning team now.
"It's a big difference," Raul Ibanez said. "It makes it a lot more fun."
Apparently, there is something about pitching in Citizens Bank Park that delights Oswalt. He is 7-0 in seven career starts at the ballpark. Oswalt claims when he's on the mound here, it's a different feeling. He is on top of the hitters.
"It feels easier," Oswalt said. "I don't know if it's just the surroundings or because I'm back into a pennant race. Anytime you have the adrenaline going, the team is playing well behind you, it just adds that much more."
Nationals slugger Adam Dunn offered a more direct explanation: "I think he's just getting better."
That probably makes more sense.
