PHILLIES NEWS

It was a dark day and night for the Phils today. It started at 1:35 in the afternoon with Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez mowing down the Phils for 6 innings while allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits and striking out 7. 2 of thos 3 hits were homers by Aaron Rowand and Chris Coste, who just rejoined the team after Jayson Werth went on the DL. In his Phillies Debut J.D Durbin wasn't quite as good as El Duque. He struck out the side in the 1st, but after that he had trouble locating his pitches and the Mets took advantage. In the end he allowed 6 runs on 8 hits in just 4 and 2/3rds innings of work, as Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes both homered to help the Mets build a 6-1 lead through 6. The Phils then began their usual rally in the 7th, as Wes Helms hit a 2 run homer to cut the lead to 6-4. Then the "Met Killer" Pat Burrell blooped a pinch RBI single in the 8th to cut it to 6-5. In the 9th, former Phil and current nemesis, Billy Wagner came in for the save and well, he shut the door on the Phils and locked it striking out the side easily. Still, it was only the first game of a doubleheader and with Cole Hamels set to start game 2 you had think they would come right back and take the night cap. Sadly, that would not be the case. While the day belonged to "El Duque" the night belonged to John Maine and a suddenly revitalized Carlos Beltran. Maine pitched 8 innings and actually went all the way into the 9th, but wasn't able to record an out, as he allowed just 2 runs on 4 hits while striking out 6 on the night. Both Phillies runs were knocked in by Chase Utley on a sac fly in the 4th and an RBI single in the 9th. The Mets meanwhile blitzed Cole Hamels, to the tune of 3 runs on 5 hits, including 2 homers by Carlos Beltran, and perhaps more importantly 5 walks. In fact Hamels had as many walks on the night as he had strikeouts. Still, he kept them in the game, trailing by only 3-1, through 6. Then in the 7th Geoff Geary gave it away, serving up a 2 out 2 run homer to Damion Easley, to put the Mets up for good 5-1. Yet, the Phils battled back one last time in the 9th off Billy Wagner. With one out Chase Utley singled in a run to cut the lead to 5-2. Then Ryan Howard worked a walk and suddenly the Phils had the tying run at the plate in Aaron Rowand, with just one out. After a long at bat Rowand struck out, then in came, yes you guessed it, "the Met killer" Pat Burrell with 2 outs, 2 on and chance to tie the game with one swing, just as he had during the series the Phils swept back in New York earlier this month, but alas after another long at bat Burrell struck out and so ended the most torturous day of the year so far. The Phils are now just 41-39, 5 games behind the Mets and back again 3rd place, 1 game behind Atlanta. Life Sucks again, big time.