PHILLIES NEWS

Until the 8th tonight's game was nothing more than old-fashioned pitcher's duel between veterans Jamie Moyer and Randy Johnson. In 6 innings of work Johnson allowed just 1 hit, that's all 1 hit, a single by Pat Burrell, which went for naught as the Phils failed to score off Johnson. Moyer meanwhile, allowed just run and a few hits through 7, with the one run coming on an Eric Byrnes solo homer. In the 8th however, all heck broke lose. Byrnes hit another solo homer to make it 2-0, and rookie Mark Reynolds hit a two run shot later in the inning to up the diamondback lead to 4-0. Eventually, Ryan Madson came in and bailed him out, but it was just a tad too late. Still, the Phils weren't willing to be swept quietly and in the bottom of the 9th they mounted a final rally. Aaron Rowand was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Shane Victorino singled off, yes off, the chest of SS orlando hudson, who subsequently crumbled to the ground in pain as the ball rolled into the outfield, obviously feigning injury to cover up his blunder. As a result Rowand wound up on third and Victorino wound up on second. Jimmy Rollins then hit a line smash to the gap in left-center just out of the reach of diving centerfielder Chris Young, who got to watch the ball roll past him as Jimmy rolled into 3rd with a triple. After Chase Utley flew out to right field, Pat Burrell singled to score Rollins, which if not for that reynolds homer would have won the game for the Phils. Instead, Ryan Howard, who had the day off, obviously to avoid the left-handed Johnson, came in to pinch hit. Micheal Bourn of course also came in to run for Burrell. Howard battled valiantly with Diamondback closer Jose Valverde, working the count to 3-2, then he crushed a line drive which for anyone other batter would have been a single to score Bourn, who had just stolen second, but for Howard with the infield shifted to the right, it went right into the glove of you guessed it, Orlando Hudson, who was conveniently covering the gap between first and second. Hudson then doubled Bourn, who had been running on the play and who was already rounding 3rd base (yes he is that fast), off of a second to the end the game in a 4-3 win for Arizona. Thus the diamondbacks got their sweep, and the Phils are back under .500(26-27) again. so life really sucks now.