(My Sportsbook) - The Philadelphia Phillies head to four cities for their longest road trip of the season, 13 games in 13 days, that will take them through the end of August. Success on this swing could be a huge determining factor if the Phils want to hold on to the wild card spot in the National League.

The Phillies will start their swing with three games in Milwaukee, beginning Tuesday. The Cardinals, who the Phils just swept over the weekend, are next on the schedule. The trip concludes with four games at Montreal and three versus the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

Heading into Tuesday's action, the Phillies, winners of five straight games, hold a half-game lead on the Florida Marlins for the NL wild card spot.

"When you have a dogfight like this you play every game as hard as you can," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "You (can't) take one team light."

Sweeping a team like the Cardinals this past weekend is a big confidence booster, especially with first baseman Jim Thome crushing the baseball to the tune of five homers in his last five games. Sunday night, Thome's two-run homer, a rocket in the third inning, was the 23rd hit into the right field upper deck in Veterans Stadium history.

"It's a big lift for us," Thome said of the sweep. "We've got a real tough road trip coming up. Hopefully we can keep this momentum. It's kind of too bad we have an off day because I think right now we're playing as good as we have all season."

The Phillies will need to get big performances on the mound from their starters. Kevin Millwood will be on the mound Tuesday, followed by Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla for the Milwaukee series. A positive for the Phillies this year is Millwood and Wolf's success on the road. Combined they are 14-6. However, the Phillies have dropped eight of their last 10 games on the road.

Although the Phillies have been inconsistent, especially at the plate. as Pat Burrell, who homered last night, is hitting just .204. On the other side, catcher Mike Lieberthal is batting .319, which would mark a career-high for him if the season ended today. Through the ups and downs of a 162-game schedule, the Phillies have managed to hang in the wild card race.

"Our pitching has carried us and put us in the situation we're in," said Thome. "Our offense is doing what we all thought it would do, is pick up some runs here and there, and start swinging the bats well."

TELEMACO A BONAFIDE NO. 5 GUY?

When the Phillies demoted Brandon Duckworth to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, they looked to Amaury Telemaco to fill in as their No. 5 starter. Judging from Telemaco's performance Sunday night, he could be on the parent club until the end of the season.

Telemaco threw seven impressive innings, retiring the final 14 batters he faced in the 6-4 win Sunday night. He allowed just two runs on four hits, struck out seven without walking a batter. The 29-year-old righthander picked up his first major league win since June 6, 2001, when he threw a complete game against the Mets.

"I doubted I was going to come back, but I kept pushing myself, I kept praying and lot of people are behind me," said Telemaco. "There's a lot of people that have something to do for me being here today. Now we have to keep working and stay positive."

Although Telemaco had butterflies in his stomach before the game, he was lucky enough not to have to face Cardinals outfielder Albert Pujols, who has a 30-game hitting streak. Pujols missed the game due to the flu.

"I'm going to have to face him in my next game," Telemaco said of Pujols. "I have to get a plan how to pitch against him."

MESA SHOVES REPORTER

While members of the media were huddled around Telemaco, there was a ruckus on the other side of the dressing room. According to witness accounts, relief pitcher Jose Mesa shoved a newspaper reporter. Mesa, who almost never talks to reporters, failed to convert a save opportunity on Sunday night and was visibly upset after being removed from the game by Bowa.

WHO'S HOT

Rightfielder Bobby Abreu finished the six-game homestand by going 11-for-23.

Reliever Dan Plesac has not been scored upon in his last 25 games, a span of 17 innings.

WHO'S NOT

Centerfielder Marlon Byrd is in a 4-for-41 slump over his last 10 games.

COMING UP

Following their 13-game trip, the Phillies will have a boatload of home games in September. Sixteen of their 26 games in the final month will be at Veterans Stadium, which will close at the end of this season.