(Best E Casino) - With their second straight National League East title locked up a day earlier than last season, the Philadelphia Phillies can breathe a sigh of relief as they close out the regular season with the finale of a three-game series versus the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies entered Saturday's game with a magic number of one and got it done with some theatrics in the bottom of the ninth inning. Offseason acquisition Brad Lidge came on to close it out for the 41st time, but ran into some trouble, loading the bases with just one out and Nationals slugger Ryan Zimmerman at the plate. Zimmerman ripped a ground ball up the middle and a sliding Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins fielded it cleanly before shoveling the ball to second baseman Chase Utley, who then turned the double play to Ryan Howard at first base to end the game.

Jamie Moyer earned the win in the 4-3 decision with six innings of one-run ball for the Phillies, who recorded back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1980-81. They also improved to 78-0 when leading after the eighth inning, thanks in large part to closer Lidge.

Jayson Werth homered and Shane Victorino had three hits in a winning effort.

Philadelphia, which has won five of seven and 12 of its last 15 games, will open postseason play Wednesday at home against either Los Angeles or Milwaukee.

Cole Hamels was set to pitch for the Phillies if they needed to clinch Sunday, but Kyle Kendrick will take his spot. Kendrick is 11-9 with a 5.46 ERA this season and made a relief appearance the previous time out on September 19 at Florida, tossing an inning and giving up a run. He last started on September 9 versus the Marlins and was rocked for seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings. Kendrick faced Washington on the first day of this month and permitted six runs in four innings in another setback.

The right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.82 ERA in five career starts against the Nats.

Anderson Hernandez had three hits and two RBI on Saturday for the Nationals, who will try to avoid the sweep this afternoon. Cristian Guzman had three hits and Lastings Milledge drove in a run in defeat. Nats starter John Lannan absorbed the loss, yielding three runs and seven hits in five frames.

Washington reached 100 losses in a season for just the third time in franchise history on Friday. Montreal hit the century mark in defeats in 1969 (110) and 1976 (107).

Taking the ball for the Nationals on Sunday will be Odalis Perez, who is 7-11 with a 4.27 earned run average in 2008. Perez was 2-0 in four starts before losing his most recent outing on September 21 versus San Diego, allowing three runs and five hits in six frames of a 6-2 setback.

The left-hander last squared off with Philadelphia on September 3 in a 9-7 victory at home. Perez permitted three runs and four hits over five innings for the no-decision. Perez is 6-3 in 15 career games, 10 of which have been starts, against Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is 11-6 against the Nationals this season.