Phillies Finish Strong But Don`t Make Playoffs

The Philadelphia Phillies put their disappointment aside and finished with a flourish.

Randy Wolf took a shutout into the ninth inning Sunday as the Phillies beat the Reds 4-1 for their first three-game sweep in Cincinnati since 1989.

The Phillies finished second in the National League East with 86 victories, their best total since they won 97 in 1993. They lost a chance for the division title by dropping two of three in Atlanta last week.

After losing 97 games last season, they pulled off the NL's most surprising playoff run, missing out by two games.

"I'm very happy with that improvement," manager Larry Bowa said. "You're disappointed because you had an opportunity to win a division. When you look at the whole picture, they made great strides and turned everything around."

Wolf (10-11), who won the series opener in Atlanta last Tuesday to cut the Phillies' deficit to one game, lost his shutout bid Sunday on Jason LaRue's run-scoring single with two outs in the ninth.

Those games in Atlanta were still gnawing at Wolf, who gave up seven hits and came within one out of his third shutout.

"The past three games, what they mean is to pad our record," Wolf said. "Other than that, we're not in a pennant race anymore. It's kind of like the day after Christmas. Those presents aren't the same. It was tough today."

Jose Mesa retired D.T. Cromer on a grounder with the bases loaded to end it for his 42nd save.

Pat Burrell, batting cleanup in the Phillies' last-game lineup, hit a two-run homer off Lance Davis (8-4) and a run-scoring double off the black upper part of the 40-foot wall in center.

The Reds completed one of the worst seasons in their 133-year history with a defeat befitting their year. They finished 27-54 at Cinergy Field, setting a team record for home losses.

Only two years after the small-market Reds won 96 games and narrowly missed out on the playoffs, they lost 96 games for only the fifth time in their history.

"Everything hit me when I got off the mound today," said reliever Scott Sullivan, who pitched the eighth. "You're glad it's over and you're glad that you're going to get to see your family, but you still wonder, 'How in the world did we play that badly?"'

The game started with a gaffe that symbolized Cincinnati's season. On Davis' final warmup toss, catcher Corky Miller sailed his throw to second over Todd Walker's head. The ball rolled past center fielder Ruben Rivera, who had to jog toward the wall to retrieve it before the game could begin.

Twice this season, a Reds catcher inadvertently threw over the pitcher's head while trying to return the ball to the mound, allowing a runner to advance.

Both managers emptied their benches for the final game, played on a sunny, 47-degree afternoon. The Reds sold 20,093 tickets for their last home game.

A year after 2.57 million fans flocked to Cinergy to see Ken Griffey Jr.'s homecoming season, the Reds' home attendance fell 697,594 -- the biggest drop in the National League.

After going 0-for-8 in the Phillies' doubleheader sweep Saturday, Griffey walked as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. He tore his left hamstring during spring training, opened the season as a hobbled pinch hitter and went 0-for-12 before going on the disabled list.

After his return on June 15, Griffey hit .295 with 22 homers and 65 RBI in 94 games.

Game notes:
The Reds' radio broadcast was switched to another local station from WLW-AM, which went to full-time coverage of the United States' bombing of Afghanistan. ... Bobby Abreu became the first Phillie to play every game in a season since Gary Matthews and Pete Rose in 1982. Abreu started all but three games. ... The Phillies committed 91 errors, fewest in team history. ... Philadelphia led the NL with 153 steals. ... Burrell's homer was his 27th and the 198th given up this season by Reds pitchers, a franchise record. ... The Reds struck out a club-record 1,172 times. Their pitchers threw only two complete games, a franchise low. None of their starters pitched into the eighth inning after Aug. 25, a span of 33 games.

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Author: 6 - ABC, Action News