Phillies pull away from Cardinals late

PHILADELPHIA -- While the Philadelphia Phillies celebrated, the St. Louis Cardinals' chances of joining the postseason party took a hit.

Roy Oswalt threw seven dominant innings, Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam and the Phillies clinched their fifth straight NL East title with a 9-2 victory over the Cardinals on Saturday night.

St. Louis fell 4 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the wild-card race with 11 remaining. The Cardinals had won eight of nine to narrow the gap from 8 1/2 on Sept. 6.

"We played with a lot of urgency," Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa said. "It was 3-2 in the eighth inning. We dodged bullets left and right. The score is misleading. I just wish the score was the other way around."

Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (12-9) allowed one earned run and five hits over 3 1/3 innings. He's given up two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his 16 road starts this season, but fell to 8-4 away from home.

"Sometimes he struggles early, and he got a couple balls up," LaRussa said.

Oswalt (8-9) allowed no runs and five hits, while striking out seven. Brad Lidge got one out in the eighth after Michael Stutes ran into trouble, and Ryan Madson finished with a seven-run cushion.

"He's a good pitcher and he pitched good tonight," Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina said. "He had a good fastball and changeup."

Michael Stutes nearly blew a 3-0 lead in the eighth after getting the first two outs. Four straight singles by John Jay, Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman and David Freese got the Cardinals within 3-2.

But Lidge came in and retired Allen Craig on a grounder to second on his first pitch to end the inning.

The Phillies then blew it open with six unearned runs in the eighth.

The major league-leading Phillies (98-52) are four wins away from setting a single-season club record.