MILWAUKEE - Ryan Madson called it a lesson relearned. Back on Sept. 12, the lanky righthander was attempting to protect a one-run lead over the New York Mets in the top of the ninth inning. But with two outs and a runner on first, Madson watched in frustration as David Wright smoked a first-pitch changeup for a two-run homer that proved to be the game-winner.
"I just relearned a lesson that day," Madson said. "If you throw [a changeup] first pitch, don't throw it for a strike."
Yesterday, the Phillies reaped the fruits of that lesson, as Madson spent most of the ninth inning pumping mid-to-high-90s fastballs into catcher Paul Bako's glove, retiring three of the four batters he faced to close out a wild 6-5 win.
And for the first time since Wednesday, when Brad Lidge blew his 11th save of the season in a 7-6 loss to the Marlins, their postseason future at closer took a step in a positive direction. While the Phillies surely hope that the blueprint they used yesterday - 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth from Chad Durbin and a big out in the sixth from rookie lefthander Sergio Escalona - is tucked safely away come October, Madson proved why manager Charlie Manuel has said for quite some time that he has "closer stuff."
Although Corey Hart gift-wrapped the first out of the four-out save, getting caught off first base and ultimately tagged out by Ryan Howard in the eighth inning, Madson entered the night with as difficult a situation as he will face once the postseason begins.
And we interrupt this game story to bring you the obligatory qualifier - the Phillies are not yet in the postseason. But with yesterday's victory, their magic number is three and their lead over the Braves in the National League East is five with seven games to play. Any combination of three wins and Braves losses will net them the crown, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.
Nursing a one-run lead - thanks to four runs, three of them on a Matt Gamel home run, that the Brewers scored against Joe Blanton (12-7) in the sixth - and facing All-Star sluggers Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, Madson thrived. Although he allowed a one-out double to Fielder, he rebounded to get pinch-hitter Felipe Lopez to groundout before striking out Mike Cameron on four fastballs, two of them hitting 98 mph on the radar gun.
Thirteen of Madson's 14 pitches were fastballs, including the one that Fielder hit for a double.
"I'm a best-pitch guy," Manuel said. "If we get beat on our best pitch, I buy into that. To me, 3-2 count, big moment, you've got to throw your best pitch."
After Madson struck Cameron out, he pumped his fist in an emotional display uncharacteristic of the California native, obviously realizing the importance of the moment. Not just because it salvaged a 5-5 split of the 10-game road swing and left the possibility of clinching early in the seven-game, season-ending homestand. But because the late innings have been fraught with peril lately, and because yesterday's game seemed ripe for another letdown.
Blanton left with two outs in the sixth inning after 124 pitches and Manuel was forced to call on Escalona to face Fielder - an MVP candidate - with the tying run on first base. Veteran lefthander Scott Eyre was available, but pitching coach Rich Dubee decided against warming him up during the sixth because Eyre's elbow injury prevents him from warming up more than once. Because Blanton had recorded the first two outs, there was a chance the Phillies would not need a lefty to face Fielder.
But after Braun's RBI single pulled the Brewers to within one, Manuel called on Escalona, who got Fielder to ground out with his first pitch.
Durbin then recorded five outs in the seventh and eighth before putting the game in Madson's hands. Since that meltdown against the Mets, Madson has allowed one run in six outings, including a save in a 1-0 win over New York the following night.
But yesterday was the first time since Lidge's last blown save that the Phillies had a chance to send a pitcher out in a save situation.
"We've been waiting a couple days for that moment right there," Madson said. "I didn't want to let the team down."
For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese.
