Last night's 5-3 loss to the Marlins dropped the Phillies to a dispiriting 8-13 at home. It was talented rookie Volstad vs. battling veteran Moyer, still in search of his elusive 250th win, this time against a team he has owned. With all the makings of a 'trap game', the outcome was too predictable. Jimmy Rollins made a weird baserunning gaffe in the first. Moyer walked two in the 4th, then appeared to have Wes Helms struck out but plate umpire Marvin Hudson thought otherwise. Sure enough Helms sent the next pitch out of the yard for a 3-2 Fish lead.
Helms drove in four of the Marlins' five runs; Ronnie Paulino added the other, on a grooved pitch. Both players of course had been released by the Phillies. Shades of that awful game last year with Rod Barajas and the Blue Jays.
Shane Victorino led off the 9th with a walk, then with Matt Stairs at the plate was picked off in a knuckleheaded attempt to steal second. Talk about deflation. Ryan Howard provided all the home offense with two home runs. One bounced off the brick batter's eye in center. I didn't understand why Chris Coste, who usually catches Moyer, was not in the game.
Reminder to self: Take it series by series.
