Santana, Phils try to not let smoke get in their eyes

PHILADELPHIA » The artificially unintelligent fog/vapor/smoke was starting to clear in the Phillies clubhouse late Friday night, the disco strobe lights starting to calm, the digitally amplified rap turned down to human (if never listenable) levels.

So the latest win was starting to soak in, along with the knowledge that as unexpected and joyful as this season seemed to be after an 11-5 victory over the San Diego Padres, there are still 66 games remaining to be played in the battle to hold on to first place in the National League East.

That knowledge was written Friday night all over the stoic face of Carlos Santana, who had helped ice this series-opening victory over the Padres Friday night with a three-run home run to centerfield in the second inning, the veteran first baseman’s 15th of the season.

Despite some first-half disappointments, Santana is well aware — probably moreso than most of his teammates in this celebratory clubhouse atmosphere — of the possible pitfalls and pratfalls that could lie ahead.

A survivor of postseason battles while with the Cleveland Indians, including a taut, seven-game World Series loss to the Cubs in 2016, Santana might quietly lament personal numbers that he knows should be better, but takes seriously his role as an experienced leader for a young team currently pushing for a somewhat premature postseason experience.

“You know, we’re fighting,” Santana said. “We’re fighting every game. I know we are in good position. Atlanta and Washington, they’re behind, but we’re not worried about that. We’re worried about here.”

“Here” is first place, a half-game above the almost as surprising Braves, who have played one less game than the Phillies and like them were rained out Saturday.

So now there is a trade deadline looming some 10 days hence for management to wring its hands over, and a homestand against these Padres and the Dodgers with which to make haste. But all along, Santana, who might be a bit non-plussed by his below-standard .209 batting average, but whose power numbers (15 HR, 56 RBIs, .403 slugging percentage) are closer to par, is ready to do whatever it takes to extend this Phillies clubhouse party to a place previously unimagined. The postseason. “For me, I try to help the team the most I can,” he said. “We have great talent, a great team. We were fighting when the season started. Now, we have the good position. ... We have everybody on the same page.

“I know we have a lot of younger players, and I know sometimes people don’t feel good about Philadelphia, but we believe. Everybody knows it’s a long season, but we’ll see what happens.”

*** With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline looming, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said he wasn’t going to be lamenting losing out to the Dodgers in the Manny Machado Supermarket Sweepstakes.

“I think you have to assess every opportunity for what it is,” Klentak said. “A month ago I probably would not have guessed that we would have even gone as far as we did (there). So it’s hard for me to project that a year or two, whatever, 10 years from now, what our thinking might be. It just depends. But we’re always going to explore every opportunity. Our ownership demands nothing less.”

*** The Phillies and Padres will (rain willing) finish their series with a doubleheader Sunday, then Machado and the Dodgers come to town. All along, the surprising youngest club in the National League will try to hold onto the NL East lead and try not to brag about it.

“Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the Phillies are in first place coming out of the All-Star break, which you guys know better than I do, that’s the first time since 2011,” Klentak said. “From where we were a year ago to where we are today, the progress that has been made here has been remarkable.”