Phillies defeat Nationals, 8-0, to clinch NL East

WASHINGTON - A few feet away from Shane Victorino, a drenched Roy Halladay was holding a Bud Light in his left hand and a cigar in the other.

"He probably wants to get done and go work out," Victorino said.

Halladay's ears perked up. He looked at Victorino.

"You heard what I said," Victorino yelled.

Halladay nodded his head, almost ashamed of the fact. Then, he smiled.

In the 346th game of his career, Halladay threw a shutout. He pitched the Phillies to their fourth straight National League East championship in an 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals. Now, arguably the game's best pitcher is headed to the postseason for the first time at age 33.

"This is the coolest thing I've been a part of," Halladay said.

It must have been. Here was Halladay, perhaps the most calculating player in baseball, running around the visitors' clubhouse at Nationals Park with goggles on, spraying his teammates with champagne.

The Phillies who have been around for all of these celebrations let Halladay, Mike Sweeney, and Brian Schneider pop the first bottles. Those three players, who represent a combined 40 major-league seasons, have never played postseason baseball until now.

"To let us to be the ones to pop the champagne," Sweeney said, "it's a tribute to the amazing men in this clubhouse."

Sweeney took off his pants and scurried around the room. He was caught from behind by closer Brad Lidge, who dumped champagne on his head.

"It burns!" he said

"Oh yeah," Lidge said, "it burns."

The Phillies will enter the postseason as the top seed in the league. They clinched that Monday, too, based upon tiebreakers with San Francisco and San Diego. For the first time since 1977, the Phillies will have the best record in the National League.

So for the final five games of the season, the Phillies can relax, reload, and prepare in their attempt to become the first National League team to win three straight pennants since the 1942-44 Cardinals.

Halladay will lead the charge. In 33 starts this season, his demeanor never changed. (Although Halladay did crack a smile the night of May 29 when he pitched a perfect game in Florida.) On Monday, Charlie Manuel handed his ace the ball, wanting an end to whatever drama remained.

"He was really wrapped up in the game," Manuel said. "He was wanting that game. Even when he was sitting down, he didn't say a word during the whole game."

Halladay came to the Phillies to pitch in the postseason. He spent 12 seasons in Toronto, never coming close to meaningful games in October.

He pitched with precision Monday. Halladay was just as dominant as he was that magical night in Florida. He faced the minimum through seven, allowing just one hit, a single through the hole on the right side by Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos to lead off the third inning.

Halladay finished the game off by striking out Danny Espinosa. As the rain fell, the Phillies danced on the mound around Halladay.

"I played in Toronto, I know what it was like there," Jayson Werth said. "It's frustrating, as good as he's been over the last few years, to not end up in this spot. It seems like it's kind of meant to be."

When Halladay came to spring training, his work ethic was a novelty among his new teammates. On so many early mornings, they tried to beat him to the team's complex in Clearwater, Fla. They talked so often about it, amazed by a pitcher making a fine first impression.

"It was never about changing teammates, changing environments, changing cities," Halladay said during his first week in Clearwater. "It was about wanting to pitch in October."

Now, here he is. As Halladay was conducting an interview in the middle of the frenzied clubhouse, Raul Ibanez poured a can of beer down his back.

"You should have warmed it up!" Halladay yelled.

The pitcher said he probably would do his typical 45-minute postgame workout. But there was still some celebrating to do. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said he expects Halladay to be the first player in the clubhouse Tuesday.

"That's why," Victorino said, "he's the best pitcher in the game."