Phillies win, 2-0, but Nationals celebrate

WASHINGTON - The Phillies shook hands on the infield at Nationals Park and could not help but peer into the home dugout. A raucous celebration had commenced. Nine minutes earlier, in the midst of defeat, the Nationals had been crowned National League East champions.

"That's the first time I ever won and got beat," Charlie Manuel said.

The manager sat in a quiet office still wearing his heavy Phillies jacket. His team won Monday, 2-0, and was formally dethroned by Washington. There was no loud music played in the visiting clubhouse. For some, this was a time to reflect.

Meanwhile, a city that has not tasted the postseason in 79 years exalted its team. In the middle of the ninth, when Atlanta lost at Pittsburgh to clinch it, the Nationals dugout exploded in ecstasy. The fans soon realized and one of the racing presidents, Abe Lincoln, stormed the field.

The scoreboard flashed the Braves loss and proclaimed "NL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS." Once the Phillies filtered into the winning clubhouse, the Nationals commandeered the field for their party. Jayson Werth, the $126-million man made a Philadelphia villain, stood with his two sons. In an only-in-Washington scene, CNN's Wolf Blitzer was doused with champagne.

This was the Nationals' payback for three moments of ignominy in five years. In 2007, 2008 and 2010 the Phillies clinched division titles with victories over Washington.

At least, Kyle Kendrick said, the Phillies were not forced to watch Monday in defeat. There could have been a dogpile and further embarrassment. If this had to happen, the Phillies made it happen on their terms.

"It was nice," Kendrick said. "It was for us to win, first of all. They didn't have to celebrate on the field. We got to go out there and shake hands."

Manuel was less pleased.

"Yeah it made me mad," he said. "Yes it did. Very much so. I'm a bad loser. Nobody should be a good loser. I'm a bad loser and always will be."

The manager used this bizarre moment as an opportunity to rant.

"Hell, I've been mad for three or four weeks," Manuel said. "It just hasn't really been coming out. We have to play much better. We have to play smarter. We have to know the game better. We have to play better defense. We have to have more knowledge of the game."

For one night, they were almost pristine. Kendrick was stellar in seven scoreless innings. He finished 2012 with a 3.90 ERA, a career-high 6.6 strikeout-per-nine inning rate and solidified a spot in next season's rotation.

"He's in there," Manuel said. "Unless we get [David] Price or someone like that."

"It was a decent year," Kendrick said.

The pitcher was most excited when he whiffed Werth to end the fifth inning. Werth was 0 for 3 against Kendrick, his friend and former teammate.

"It's always nice to strike him out," Kendrick said, smiling.

With one more victory, the Phillies will guarantee their 10th straight winning season, a franchise record. That, however, is reduced to an empty accomplishment at this point.

"I don't know what it means," Manuel said.

The manager was clearly perturbed, but knew this night was always a possibility. The Phillies players and coaches have long paid compliment to Washington's style of play. They have spent 118 straight days in first place and no longer have to look over their shoulder.

Manuel just wishes the coronation occurred another time.

"That's the beauty of the game," he said. "I guess."

For these Phillies, only two more days remain in this nightmare.