Flatline offense and suspect pitching added up to another snooze at the ballpark last night---and a 7-2 loss to the Marlins. (Watch out for those Fish next year. They are coming on.) Ryan Howard hit his 44th, a two-run blast into the bullpen, then the offense rested. The Phillies are limping into the play-offs, but then so is everyone else in the NL except the Rockies, who keep rolling along. A little home field advantage might go a long way vs. the Rox. The Phillies will have to win a game or two here this weekend to secure that.
On the IronPigs' watch, Andy Tracy had another pinch-hit and Miguel Cairo played shortstop for the resting Jimmy Rollins.
Bad news getting worse: J.C. Romero, whose year started with a 50-game suspension and only got worse, is out for the season with forearm tendinitis. Chan Ho Park will miss at least the division series.
