PHILLIES NEWS

The Phils traveled to Colorado tonight for a one night stand with the Rockies, to make up a game that was previously washed out. Not surprisingly, both teams looked a little less than lucid, which made for an error filled night. The pitching for both teams was ineffective as a result and a good old fashioned Coors field slug fest ensued. Colorado struck first with 4 runs in the 2nd. Raul Ibanez started to bring the Phils back with an RBI single in the 4th to cut it to 4-1. Chase Utley added a sac fly to cut it to 4-2 in the 5th. In the home of the 5th Colorado extended their lead 6-2. The Phils had a golden opportunity to come all the way back with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 6th, but after Mike Sweeney took a pitch off the hand to force in one run, Jimmy Rollins hit into a double play, wasting the opportunity.

Antonio Bastardo got himself into a real jam with the bases loaded and nobody out in the home half of the 6th, but somehow he got out of it having allowed just 1 run when Melvin Mora just missed a grand slam. The Rockies inability to blow it open in the 6th would come back to haunt them. Down 7 -3 heading into the 7th, the Phils exploded for 9 runs and 12-7 lead. Utley singled in a run, Ryan Howard crushed a 3 run homer, Jayson Werth slammed a game tying solo homer, Ben Francisco slapped a pinch RBI single and finally Utley came back up and hooked a grand slam just inside the line. You would think that would have put the Rockies away for good. It didn't. 3 runs in the 7th cut it to 12-10. Another run in the 9th cut it to 12-11 before Brad Lidge finally got Ryan Spillborghs to ground into a game ending fielder's choice. With the Giants idle the Phils pull 2 games up in the wild card and within 2 games of the Braves in the NL East as they finally lost.