This afternoon's game started with the news that Raul Ibanez had a sore wrist and was out of the game. But it got much worse. In the 1st, John Lannan, who once broke Chase Utley's hand and who has several times hit Ryan Howard, hit Ryan Howard on the elbow. Howard later injured his ankle at second base and had to be helped from the field. Rollins' grim face in the dugout said it all.
So the Phillies took a 2-0 lead, then the Nats tied it, then went ahead, then the Phillies tied it 4-4 and on to extra innings they went. In the 11th, the Phillies scored two and could have scored more but left two on base. (In total they had 11 LOB's today.) Brad Lidge then came in for that rare 1-2-3 save, his first such since late June. Roy Oswalt had a sac bunt in the 11th.
X-rays on Howard's ankle and elbow were negative. Howard says he should be able to play in a few days. Too bad that's what they all say. Jayson Werth is now the only regular to be injury-free. It's all just too numbing.
Weird stats of the day: Cole Hamels has allowed 4+ runs only twice in his past 17 starts. And he is 7-7. The combined averages of Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt average out to precisely 3.00. The three have given up far fewer hits and walks than innings pitched. And they have a combined record under .500. Any time the offense wants to chip in with some support, it would be lovely.
