PHILLIES NEWS

Normally when your team scores 12 runs in 2 games you've got good news to talk about, but not so for the Phillies. For the 2nd night in a row they trailed the Padres early 2-0, and like last night they rallied back to tie the score at 2, this time in the 3rd inning following a solo homer by Jimmy Rollins. However, unlike last night they were unable forge a lead and starter Ryan Madson could not escape the game, as Hamels had, with only 3 runs on his slate. Through 5 innings Madson held the Padres to 3 runs, but in the 6th inning which was likely to be his last, he ran into some trouble. Fueled by the same Adrian Gonzalez who had victimized the Phils last night the Padres touched up Madson for 4 runs, chasing him from the game. At this point the Padres lead 7-2 and were seemingly on their way to an easy win, but the Padres bullpen which began their night in the 7th inning, nearly recreated what the Phillies had done last night in blowing a 6-3 Phillies lead. Doug Brocail started the inning by surrendering 2 runs and three hits. Alan Embree replaced him , surrendered another run, and suddenly the Phillies were within 2 at 7-5, but Clay Meredith relieved Embree and retired the side, momentarily ending the Phillies rally. David Bell tripled and scored in the 8th inning of Scott Linebrink, to cut the lead to 7-6, and all at once it seemed a very real possibility that the Phils could steal one in San Diego, but it was not to be. Up until the bottom of the 8th inning the Phils bullpen, much maligned by me for their performance last night, had done pretty good, then the normally reliable Arthur Rhodes entered the game and well, let's just say he didn't have his best stuff as he gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, for a 10-6 Padres lead, effectively ending Phillies hopes for the night. Well, with tonight's loss the Phillies drop to 13.5 games back in their division, and 6 games in the wildcard race, with 8, yes 8 hit teams ahead of them. I know about you but to me it seems that the mountain is beginning to get a little to tall to climb. If they get really hot, really fast, their season could be over before they even know it. Well, happy trails everyone.