PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils have been struggling to score runs for Cole Hamels lately, wasting one great effort after another. Sadly, tonight was no different. Cole tossed 7 strong innings, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 8. However, the Phils could only come up with Raul Ibanez' RBI double in the 6th. With 2 outs in the 9th, Hamels was still in line for another 1 run loss. Then Jimmy Rollins slammed a game tying homer to touch off a long, wild night.Both teams used up all of their position players, and the game had dragged all the way to the bottom of the 14th before the Phils finally got the winning run in scoring position.

There, with runner's on 2nd and 3rd and 2 out Ryan Howard locked in a battle with Mark Melancon and lost. Twice during the at bat, including strike 3, he attempted to check his swing but upon appeal to the 3rd base umpire he was called for swinging. The first time didn't bother him so much, but that 3rd strike set him off the deep end. After running towards the umpire and arguing, he was tossed from the game. With no one left on the bench, the Phils were forced to move Ibanez, the only guy left on the field with experience at 1st base, from left field to 1st base, and Roy Oswalt, yes Roy Oswalt the pitcher, came in to play left.

The Phils managed to survive with their emergency fielders for 1 inning but it came back to bite them in the 16th. First in the top of the inning, two attempts at an inning ending double play failed with no Howard to finish it off and Houston took advantage for 2 runs and a 4-2 lead. Then in the home half of the 16th it was Oswalt and not Howard who came to the plate representing the winning run with 2 on and 2 out. Fittingly he grounded out to end it. So ending another frustrating 4-2 loss.