I resigned myself to the end of the season in the 6th inning of tonight's game. The Phillies had just retaken the lead 5-4 on Ryan Howard's second 2-run homer of the night, that after a dumb 5th which gave the Nats two runs on one hit. So Howard homers with Werth on base. Then Pat Burrell, who has been near-comatose, singles. Still no outs. Acta replaces Estrada with Colome. Up steps Feliz, who flies out to center on the first pitch. Up steps Coste, who flies out to right on the first pitch. Up steps pinch-hitter Victorino, who flies out to right on the first pitch. That was it for me. Enough to send me screaming into the night. And sure enough, after another stinky showing by Joe Blanton, who didn't make it through the 5th, the bullpen blew it. Hell of a time for the bullpen to spring leaks. Or for the 'innings-eater' to start fasting.
I switched to the Yankees-Rays game just in time to see Alex Rodriguez hit what was ruled a 2-run homer but looked distinctly foul to all but the umpire. So for the first time ever the umps went to instant replay. TV replay meanwhile seemed to show that it was a foul ball. But no, the call stood. So was instant replay used for the first time and they still got it wrong? No, Rays skipper Joe Maddon confirmed later that it was a fair ball all the way.
Glancing cheers tonight for IronPigs call-up Mike Cervenak, who got a pinch-hit single, and for Reading Phillies call-up Greg Golson, who in the 8th came in to pinch-run and got his first stolen base in the majors. But, Greg, please do lose the chaw.
