PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Pinch-hitter Ross Gload hit an RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep and extend their lead to 10½ games in the NL East.
The major league-leading Phillies (91-48) reduced their magic number to 12 for clinching their fifth straight division title.
They are 43 games above .500 for the first time in franchise history.
Second-place Atlanta still should reach the postseason barring a late collapse. The Braves entered 7½ games ahead of St. Louis and San Francisco in the wild-card race.
It may be a costly win for the Phillies because five-time All-Star Chase Utley left the game for precautionary reasons for a possible concussion, two innings after he was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Eric O'Flaherty.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
