PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils continued their series with the Rays tonight. Joe Blanton got the start and pitched well, allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 10 in 7 solid innings. However, the Phils lineup went stagnant providing Blanton with just 1 run on 4 hits. Jimmy Rollins went hitless again, as did Shane Victorion, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz, and Pedro Feliz. Matt Garza pitched well for Tampa but not that well. It was really just one of those off nights for the Phils lineup. Still, through 7 and 1/2 innings it was actually enough to keep the Phils in it. Pat Burrell hit a 2 run homer in the 2nd inning and Jayson Werth slugged a solo homer just inside the foul pole in the 7th inning, but that was it, 2-1 Rays going into the bottom of the 8th. There J.C Romero took over for Blanton and got a couple outs before loading the bases, prompting Charlie Manuel to bring Chan Ho Park into the game. Park got Burrell to ground into what should have been an inning ending fielder's choice but JRoll flipped to 2nd instead of trying to get the slow footed Burrell at first, and Ben Zobrist beat the flip to keep the inning alive and allow a run to score. After that a 2 run single by Jason Bartlett and a 2 run double by Gabe Gross put it out of reach for a Phils comeback, with the score 7-1 Rays. So the Phils drop just their 10 game on the road, so they'll have to win tomorrow to avoid losing their first series on the road this season. I commented on this earlier but I just wanted to reiterate here that Brad Lidge is expected to return to the Phils bullpen which should help the Phils avoid messes like this one. By the way, Ryan Howard was still the DH for the Phils today so I don't know when he'll back at 1st base, but apparently he is over his recent bout with the flu, so it shouldn't be long now. So anyway the Phils drop to 37-32 overall now and to just 1.5 games up in the NL East.