PHILLIES NEWS

Today's game was a tough pill to swallow both for the fans and the players hungry for a playoff berth. Yes, that's right the Phillies lost again, this time 7-5, in front of another raucous Citizens Bank Park crowd hoping for a win. I don't want to have to give all the sickening details, but I have nothing else to talk about tonight, so here goes nothing. The Phils started off on the wrong foot, falling behind early 2-0 and never really got back on the right track. Phils starter Brett Myers had a rare tough outing, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in 5 and 2/3rd innings of work, including back to back to back homeruns by Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Dunn, and Rich Aurilia in the 6th inning. Following the homers, Myers was pulled from the game, forcing the Phillies tired bullpen to embark on another long night, and this time behind 5-1. Still despite being behind by 4 through 6 innings, as they had the last 2 nights the Phils were able to mount a rally. Ryan Howard hit a 2 run homer in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 5-3. Then with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth following a pinch RBI single by Chris Coste, Howard singled to plate Jimmy Rollins with the tying run and put runners on 1st and 3rd for Pat Burrell. If Burrell had been able to get a hit the Phils would have won dramatically 6-5, but instead he struck out to end the inning and send the game into extras. There, after squandering another opportunity when Mike Lieberthal hit a 1 out double, but was subsequently doubled off after straying to far off the base on a line drive, the Phils bullpen let it get away. Ryan Madson came in to pitch in the top of the 11th inning and was roughed up for 2 runs on 3 hits, putting the Reds up by the eventual final score 0f 7-5. The Phillies did actually mount another rally in the bottom of the inning, but it felt short when Chase Utley grounded out to end the game, stranding Howard in the on deck circle just before he could get another chance to extend the game with a hit. Once again sorry to remind you of all those horrible things but I had to. Anyway the Phils are now 4 games behind the Reds in the Wild Card race, but that is still well within striking distance for the Phils ,so I wouldn't count them out just yet. Well, happy trails everyone.