"I'm so happy for him because he was working real hard," catcher Carlos Ruiz said as champagne was sprayed through the clubhouse. "I mean, what a moment to have Roy Oswalt on the mound and doing a great job. He's a guy who likes to compete, and it's hard when you have injuries. But right now he's healthy, and that's good for them and good for us."
Oswalt pitched seven shutout innings and struck out seven without walking a batter. He gave up five hits, four of them singles. The Phillies needed him to be sharp because they didn't break open the game until the eighth inning.
When the game ended, the Phillies reacted as if they'd been there before, which, of course, they have. Ruiz ran out to hug Ryan Madson after the closer retired Rafael Furcal on a grounder to second baseman Chase Utley. Otherwise, there were the usual high-fives.
After all, a division title merely serves as an appetizer for a veteran team built for the sole purpose of winning the World Series.
"There's still work to be done," said Jimmy Rollins, who had four singles. "Ultimately, it's about winning the World Series. We still have work to do. We always look forward and never look back. This part is done, and we know what's ahead of us."
Manager Charlie Manuel went with his eight regulars for the first time in six weeks, and the Phillies finally lit it up on offense after eight consecutive games in which they failed to score more than three runs.
Shane Victorino had three RBIs, on his 17th homer, a single, and a bases-loaded walk. Rollins got his four hits after going 3 for 20 since he came off the disabled list. Hunter Pence, who got to savor his first title as a big-leaguer, got things going by doubling home a run in the first and later added another RBI. He was on base four times.
