God hates Phillies fans. How can this happen every year?

The Phils won tonight to even their series with the Braves and inch a bit closer to the floundering Mets in the NL East race.  They were aided by a Larry Jones error and a much needed effective start from Kyle Lohse. The Nats continued to play the spoiler with a five-run fifth that helped them sweep the Mets at Shea. Maybe Washington should get in the playoffs. The Phils now trail the Mets by one game, and would apparently be doomed if the season were another week longer.

Unfortunately, the Padres won big (11-3) in San Francisco.  So the Phils still trail by one game in the wild card race.

The Phillies now must hope that Adam Eaton (Eek!) can beat John Smoltz (Yow!) tomorrow. While Pedro Martinez goes for the Mets.  The Phils have held a playoff spot for one day this season and that was a day (Monday) that they were idle.

The Phils could become the first team to own at least a share of a playoff spot for just one day and that day was in September.  Here are the latest dates for a team that occupied a playoff spot for day:

This plot is getting more contrived than the last season of 24. Somehow it still has at least a few more twists and turns left, but I know that the Phils will again end up a game short again.