Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ross Gload came through with the game- winning, pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, putting an exclamation point on Philadelphia's three-game whitewash of the Atlanta Braves with a 3-2 win and cementing their dominance atop the NL East.
The Phillies, who became the first team to sweep the NL wild card-leading Braves in a series of at least three games all season, widened their cushion to 10 1/2 games in the division. Their magic number is down to 12 to secure the NL East title for a fifth straight year.
Placido Polanco singled in the tying run off Jonny Venters in the eighth inning and Raul Ibanez, who homered in the second, walked against Peter Moylan (1-1) with one out in the ninth. Carlos Ruiz then hit a ground ball past a diving third baseman Chipper Jones to put runners at first and second.
Gload, who came into the game in a 4-for-33 slump, hit a sharp bouncer down the right field line, past diving first baseman Freddie Freeman for his major league-leading 17th pinch hit of the season.
The Sports Network