PHILLIES NEWS

It's hard to know what to say after a game like the one the Phils played this afternoon. They had it so firmly in control through 8 innings and then it fell apart for them from that point on. Early on Ryan Howard, Wilson Valdez , and Raul Ibanez all bashed homeruns, Chase Utley slapped a triple and Phils jumped out to an 8-3 lead. Meanwhile Cole Hamels tossed 7 good innings allowig just 4 runs on 5 hits and striking out 7. Later in the bottom of the 7th Jayson Werth crunched the Phils 4th homer of the day for a 9-4 lead. Surely the bullpen would close it out after that. J.C Romero and Jose Contreras combined for a scoreless 8th. Then it was on to Jose Contreras to close it out in the 9th. Unfortunately he allowed a 2 run homer to Jim Thome and was unable to retire a batter in th e 9th. So in came Brad Lidge to close it out.

Unfortunately he couldn't get out of the inning until Joe Mauer had crushed a game tying 2 run homer. Like much of last year he just couldn't locate his fastball. Then after the Phils stranded a couple runners in the bottom of the 9th, backup catcher, Drew Butera slammed another solo shot for an 11-10 Minnsotae. Just when it seemed all hope was lost Ross Gload lined a 2 out a solo homer of his own to tie it at 10 and restore hope of a Phils win. Like the rest of the bullpen Danys Baez could not hold of the Twins as they racked up 3 more runs on a bases loaded infield single by Delmon Young and a 2 run double by Matt Tolbert to make it 13-10 Twins. This time the Phils couldn't come up with a comeback and Minnesota hung on at last for the 13-10. This was a tough one to swallow but these guys are experienced and can shake it off. With Roy Halladay on the mound tomorrow they should win the series anyway and that's all that's important.