Except that this isn't 2008 or 2009 anymore. So they made it a lot harder on themselves than necessary.
A silly throwing error by Jayson Werth, a balk and a walk by J.C. Romero while facing only one batter, and a wild pitch by closer du jour Ryan Madson helped the Florida Marlins to tie the score in the eighth.
Even somebody who doesn't know a baseball from a kumquat wouldn't immediately identify that sequence as having been committed by a division-leading club.
That was papered over when the Phillies constructed a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning that allowed them to pull out an 8-7 win against the Fish and hopscotch over the Atlanta Braves by a half-game.
Which is swell and all.
"It's always good to be in first place. It's the only way to live," manager Charlie Manuel said with a smile after the game. And he's right. It beats the alternative. But it's important to remember this is only a temporary accomplishment.
Starting tomorrow, for the next week, the Phillies can't count on teams such as the Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates to do their dirty work for them.
The Braves lost two of three to the Fish and now two straight to the Buccos, who have the worst record in baseball. The reality, though, is that Atlanta's biggest opponent for much of the season has been the schedule-maker. Those last five games have been on the road. And, simply, the Braves are a different team when they take a cab or bus to work instead of driving their own expensive German engineering.
At Turner Field: 49-19, the biggest home advantage in baseball.
On the road, 30-41, which doesn't scare anybody.
