MIAMI — Not long after the Phillies' plane touched down here Sunday night, Tropical Storm Gordon began whipping through South Florida, bringing strong winds and heavy rain overnight and into Monday morning.
Remember that four-game sweep of the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park? That was a month ago, and when it was over, the Phillies were sitting pretty atop the National League East with a strong chance of making the playoffs.
But as the Phillies meet the Marlins again this week, they are on the outside of the playoff picture and fading fast. And it didn't help that they lost the series opener, 3-1, in front of an announced crowd of 7,771 for a Labor Day matinee at Marlins Park.