PHILLIES NEWS

After a devastating loss yesterday the Phils came into tonight's game in Cleveland against the Indians, looking to pick up the pieces and move on with ace Cole Hamels on the mound. Unfortunately Hamels simply didn't have the stuff tonight. In only 5 innings of work he allowed 6 runs on 8 hits, including a 3 run homer by Kelly Shoppach, who ironically, is the Indians backup catcher, with the dangerous Victor Martinez, known for his clutch hits, being their starter. So even avoiding the bat of Martinez isn't much of a break against the ultra-talented Indians. At any rate 5 of those 6 runs allowed by Hamels, came in the first 2 innings, putting the Phils in a 5-0 hole from which they would never escape. When Ryan Howard finally did get the Phils on the board with a solo homer in the top of the 6th, Cleveland came right back and scored 3 more off Geoff Geary in the bottom of the inning for a 9-1 lead. Then to add insult to injury, former Phillies bench warmer-turned Indians outfielder, Jason Micheals homered in the 7th to put the Cleveland up 10-1 and complete their pounding of the Phils, as that's how it ended. So the Phils lost big 10-1, while the Mets and Braves both won big, dropping the Phils to 3 games behind the Mets for 1st in the NL East, and 1.5 games behind the Braves for 2nd. Life thus, still sucks.