Suddenly Streaking

The 9-5 victory over Arizona on Tuesday night was the sort of game the Phillies would have lost a week ago.

Their starter, Cole Hamels, lasted just five innings at Citizens Bank Park, meaning Charlie Manuel needed 12 outs from a depleted and ineffective bullpen. Twice in the middle innings, the Phillies blew a lead. Then, in the seventh, they suffered yet another injury, this one to Shane Victorino.

A week ago, the Phillies were teetering on the edge of falling too far behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Now?

"We just felt like we could win this game," Ryan Howard said. "And we went out there and did it."

Coupled with Atlanta's loss to Washington, the Phillies moved 3 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East, the closest they've been since June 30. Their six-game winning streak is the longest of the season for the Phillies, who are peaking at such a crucial time with key decisions to be made before Saturday's trading deadline.

But those decisions may have been complicated even further when Victorino left Tuesday's game with a strained muscle in his left side. The centerfielder will have an MRI exam on Wednesday morning to determine the severity of the injury.

Victorino was hopeful it would not require a stint on the disabled list.

"I don't think it's that bad," he said. "I hope it's not that bad. I won't know until I take the MRI. It's something there. An oblique injury is one of those things guys say don't play with."

If Victorino is significantly hurt, it could change everything for the Phillies. Jayson Werth, the subject of constant trade rumors, would almost certainly remain a Phillie. (Although even before the injury to Victorino, the Phillies appeared to have softened their stance on moving Werth.) And it could force the Phillies to summon top prospect Domonic Brown from triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Manuel was noncommittal on any possible move, obviously waiting for the results of Victorino's tests. But he did not rule out a promotion for Brown.

"I think Domonic is always a consideration," Manuel said.

Victorino said he was hurt in the bottom of the sixth when diving back to first base on a pickoff play. He came out after making a running catch in the top of the seventh.

"After I went back for that ball, I felt it grab a little more," Victorino said. "I didn't want it to blow out."

Before assistant athletic trainer Mark Andersen and Manuel could even reach Victorino in center, he was already headed toward the dugout.

The Phillies are already without shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who bruised his left foot Monday and could miss the next few games. By the seventh inning Tuesday, Manuel had used his entire bench, with the exception of backup catcher Brian Schneider.

"We've had so many injuries," Howard said. "We've had such an up-and-down year. The focus has continued to be just go out there and continue to do what we can."

For now, at least, the Phillies can bask in the fact that they are winning games even when not at their best. Hamels needed 108 pitches to complete just five innings. The Phillies left the bases loaded twice in the first three innings. And Howard made an error that led to a Diamondbacks run in the sixth.

But Werth, Howard and Cody Ransom each homered on two-strike counts. For Werth, it was his first home run since June 23, a span of 104 at-bats. That was the third-longest drought of his career.

After Rule 5 pick David Herndon allowed two runs in the sixth, Danys Baez, Jose Contreras and Ryan Madson pitched a spotless final three innings.

And in a week, the two-time defending National League champions have acquired a great deal of confidence.

"What's changed? We've been winning games," Manuel said, matter-of-factly. "We just have to keep coming to the ballpark and play like we always do."