The Phils charged out of the gate tonight scoring four runs in the first inning with some timely hitting and even more timely Brave errors.  Jimmy Rollins got it going, lining a single on the first pitch from John Smoltz.  He scored on a Victorino bunt and a throwing error by Smoltz. Another error and line-drive homer from Ryan Howard put them up to stay 4-0.

Meanwhile the Mets behind Pedro Martinez were in the midst of being shut out by Joel Pineiro on a three-hitter.  And—poof!—the Phillies were in first place for the first time this season. Hell, it’s the first time they have been in first place since opening day last year (April 2) and that’s just because all of the teams in their division were 0-0.  The last time they were tied for first with an actual record was a year earlier, April 6, 2005, when they were tied at 1-1 with three other teams in the division.

This all comes after trailing the Mets by 7 games just 15 days ago—right before the Phils swept the Mets. Since September 12, the Phillies are 11-3 while the Mets have slouched to 4-10, including their current four-game losing streak.  The Mets now play host to the Marlins and the Phils welcome the Nats. Things look bright, bit the Phils do have Adam Eaton and the slumping Jamie Moyer starting in the last two games.

Anyway, if the Phillies pull off the division title, they will be the first team to come back from at least seven games back after September 6.  Here are the latest that any team trailed by at least seven games and then went on to win a division or league title, of course, led by the Cards dancing on the ’64 Phils grave:

Only one other team was behind by seven games as late as September 12 and was able to grab a division/league lead. The 1964 Reds were seven games behind the Phillies on September 18.  They grabbed a share of the league lead (with the Cards) on October 3 only to fall to third by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the Yankees locked up their thirteenth straight playoff appearance while eliminating the reigning AL champ from postseason. The reigning World Series champ, the Cards, were already out.

The Tigers and Cards are actually competing for the worst combined record by two World Series competitors the year after the Series.  At least, they are in the top ten:

As far as the Yankees feat—it grows to 14 straight years if you include the strike shortened 1994 season—is the longest streak in baseball history:

As far as the other end of the spectrum is concerned, the Brewers are looking to end their 25-year postseason drought.  That ties them for the 14^th longest streak in baseball history: