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Surging Phillies look to overtake Mets in NL East

Sep 28, 2007 - 1:26 PM Washington (72-87) at Philadelphia (87-72) 7:05 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Just over two weeks ago, the Philadelphia Phillies were seven games behind the New York Mets in the National League East Division. But things have changed dramatically over the last 15 days.

The Phillies aim to continue their improbable late-September run and overtake the reeling Mets in the NL East when they host the Washington Nationals in the opener of a crucial three-game series Friday.

Philadelphia has won 14 of its last 19 games to climb into a tie with New York (87-72) at the top of the NL East standings and sit one game behind the San Diego Padres (88-71) in the wild card race.

Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell homered Thursday to lead the Phillies to a 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Howard has belted six homers and driven in 15 runs over his last 10 contests. The reigning league MVP is batting .265 with 44 home runs and 130 RBI this season.

On Friday, the Phillies send ace Cole Hamels (14-5, 3.54 ERA) to the mound. Hamels has won his last three decisions but has missed significant time the past two months with a strained left elbow.

The 23-year-old lefthander lasted just five innings, yielding one run and two hits with two walks and six strikeouts in a 5-3 loss to the Nationals on Sunday.

Washington will counter with righthander Tim Redding (3-5, 3.53), who is winless in his last five starts.

The Nationals have won four straight contests, including Wednesday's 9-6 triumph over the Mets - a victory which completed a three-game series sweep.