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NEW YORK - Brett Myers made a statement tonight at Shea Stadium that the Phillies have no plans to fade quietly in the National League East.
Mike Schmidt made a statement, too.
He sent the Phillies an inspirational e-mail that was taped to the clubhouse door before their 3-0 victory over the New York Mets, which put them within two games of first place with 21 games to play. One part of the message read, "The Mets know you're better than they are. They remember last year."
Jimmy Rollins skimmed the note, so he said he didn't read the part about the Mets.
"No, what did he say?" Rollins said.
The Mets know that you're better than they are.
"Oh, well that part is true," he said.
He also said the Mets would be thinking about last year. Is that part true?
"I think it's only natural, if we win all three games," Rollins said. "If not, then they'll take a deep breath and get a chance to probably gather themselves, but if we win all three games, naturally, you're going to think about that."
The Phillies put themselves on track to do just that, though a sweep won't be easy. Still, Myers rose to the challenge as he allowed just three hits and two walks and struck out 10 in eight shutout innings.
Myers has been the second-best pitcher in baseball since the all-star break. Milwaukee Brewers lefthander CC Sabathia is 7-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 10 starts since the break. Myers is 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA in nine starts.
New York's Carlos Beltran hit a leadoff double in the second, but Myers retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced. He didn't allow another hit until Daniel Murphy hit a one-out double in the sixth.
Charlie Manuel said this was Myers' best start of the season.
"It was probably one of my biggest," Myers said.
The Phillies took 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to Shane Victorino, who manufactured a run. Greg Dobbs hit a two-out, two-run home run to right field in the seventh to ice it. Dobbs talked a bit about his home run, but he couldn't help but talk about Myers.
"I think it's his overall command, not only his pitches, but his emotions," Dobbs said. "His focus. He's a bulldog out there right now. The look in his eyes. The fierceness. The competitiveness. All that's there, but he's honing it and channeling and focusing it in a way I've never seen him do."
Myers said he didn't read Schmidt's note before the game. That's OK.
Rollins didn't, either. But he liked what he heard.
at 215-854-4874 or tzolecki@phillynews.com. Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/phillieszone.
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