One thing about today's frustrating loss---it made me forget yesterday's. Color me pessimistic. Today the Phillies left 15 men on base, leaving the bases loaded four times, including in the 8th when they scored twice on walks to tie the game 6-6. Utley flied out to end the 9th, again with the bases loaded. Earlier in the inning Eric Bruntlett was called out on a play at home that ended up sending Card catcher Yadier Molina to the hospital on a stretcher. (Initial tests indicated that Molina was OK.) The Phils' bullpen was again outstanding. Until the fatal 10th, that is, when Tom Gordon got two quick outs, then he and Utley played dipsy doodle on a couple of dead-easy plays that handed the Cards the game. The first error, an errant throw by Utley to Gordon covering first, put the winning run on 2nd. The second, this time on Gordon, who flat out missed the throw, was on an almost-identical play. Ball game over. But if you leave the bases loaded 4x, do you deserve to win? Again, color me pessimistic, but this is not the way to head home and into Interleague play with Red Sox and Angels.
Jimmy has got to get his stroke back, his timing back or this team is going nowhere.
