(Best E Casino) - As Philadelphia's closer, Brett Myers threw the pitch that vaulted the Phillies into the playoffs as National League East champions on the final day of the 2007 season.
Tonight, Myers will try to help Philadelphia creep closer to its second straight division title in the finale of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.
Myers fanned Washington's Wily Mo Pena to finish off the Phils' victory over the Nats to end the 2007 regular season, completing Philadelphia's comeback over the New York Mets. The Phillies overcame a seven-game deficit with 17 games to play to capture their first NL East crown since 1993.
With their magic number at three to claim a second straight postseason appearance for the first time since 1980-81, Myers takes the hill tonight as a starter.
Myers' return to the rotation to start this season didn't go well, with the right-hander getting sent to the minor leagues midway through the season to work out of a slump. However, in 12 post All-Star game starts, Myers is 7-3 with a 2.79 earned run average.
His second-half surge hit a small bump last time out, as he was rocked for 10 runs on nine hits and two walks in four innings of a 14-8 loss to Florida on Friday. It dropped Myers to 10-12 with a 4.46 ERA on the season.
The 28-year-old was hit for eight runs (6 earned) on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings of a loss to the Braves on May 14, his only start against them so far this year. Lifetime, Myers is 4-7 against the Braves with four saves and a 4.46 ERA in 25 games (18 starts).
Philadelphia failed to help itself on Tuesday, falling to Atlanta by a 3-2 margin. The Phillies magic number to clinch the NL East remained at four after the Mets' win over the Cubs, while their magic number to clinch at least a wild card berth remained at three with the Brewers downing Pittsburgh.
The Phils lead the NL East by 1 1/2 games over the Mets.
Pat Burrell and Pedro Feliz each drove in a run in the loss, while Ryan Howard reached base four times with a pair of walks, a triple and a single. However, ace lefty Cole Hamels allowed three runs (2 earned) over seven frames.
Following an off day on Thursday, Philadelphia, which had a three-game winning streak halted and lost for just the second time in 12 games, wraps its regular season with three at home versus Washington.
Mike Hampton threw six solid innings and Kelly Johnson extended his hitting streak to an NL-high 21 games in the win, Atlanta's third in four games. The victory also halted a six-game losing streak to the Phillies, who still lead the season series 14-3.
Johnson is hitting .415 (34-for-82) on his hitting streak with three homers, 18 RBI and 16 runs scored.
Atlanta's Chipper Jones did not play due to right shoulder tendonitis, and he hasn't started since last Friday due to the ailment. He has made a couple pinch-hit appearances since then, and leads the majors with a .364 average.
The Braves, who wrap up their season with three games in Houston beginning Friday, start Jo-Jo Reyes, who is 0-7 with a 7.79 ERA in his last 12 outings.
That includes a start versus the Mets on Friday in which Reyes was tagged for five runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old southpaw fell to 3-11 with a 5.74 ERA this season.
Reyes is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four games (2 starts) lifetime against the Phillies, and was touched for five runs in 2 2/3 innings of action against them on July 27.
