PHILLIES NEWS

Only one word can adequately describe tonight's game, aargh! okay maybe that's not a word but that is how I felt when it was over, frustrated that the Phillies had lost. Not just because lost ,but because of how they lost. They started the night off right with a 2 run blast by David Dellucci in the 1st inning for a 2-0 lead. Then Phils starter Scott Mathieson got roughed up in the 2nd inning for 4 runs after loading the bases and allowing the pitcher to reach base on an infield single. That alone would have been enough to get me ticked off, but just as I was about to start throwing objects at the TV the Phils staged a rally. In the bottom of the inning Jimmy Rollins put the Phils back on top 5-4 with a 3 run homer. Then 2 innings later just as I was mellowing out , Mathieson was roughed up again this time for 2 runs, and again the Reds were ahead 6-5. Now at this point I was getting tired of the game going back in forth between the 2 teams, so I was kinda of glad when both teams sent their bullpens in and things started settling down, as the both the Phils and Reds were held scoreless for the next 3 innings. Then just as I began to settle down into the flow of the game, Ryan Howard ramped up my excitement, as he hit a towering solo homer to tie the game at 6. I remember thinking to myself at this point "hey it's tied at 6 in the 8th inning, maybe will go extra innings again, and Phils will get another dramatic walk off win". Of course as you'll see to my chagrin none of those things happened. In the top of the 9th inning Tom Gordon came on in relief, but just like last night he was roughed up, only this time he gave up 3 runs and put the Phils behind by 3 going into the bottom of the 9th. I was pretty angry at this point, mostly at Gordon for not getting the job done again, but also at the fact that Phillies were probably going to lose. Still, even though they would need 3 runs to tie it up, I thought the Phils could pull it out. Jimmy Rollins confirmed my suspicions with his 2nd homer of the night to cut the lead to 9-7. Then Mike Lieberthal singled and Chase Utley got hit by a pitch, bringing Ryan Howard to the plate, representing the winning run. At this point I started thinking "man wouldn't that be sweet if he homers to win the game" , but of course he struck out to end the game minutes later for a 9-7 loss to Reds. Just to summarize, I started out happy, then I got a little pissed, then I was happy again, then I got excited, then I got pissed off again, then I started to get a little excited again, and now I am just pissed off because they lost. Boy, isn't amazing the range of emotions you can go through by just watching a game, imagine how the players must feel. Anyway it's all okay because they are only 3 games back now and as long as they win tomorrow I'll be happy. Well, happy trails everyone and turn that frown upside down, or whatever it is that you do get over a loss.