So the Phillies went from Seattle to St. Louis this week for what turned out to be a rather loopy series. On Tuesday night, Roy Halladay, trying for win #10, was lifted after the sixth with the Phillies down a run. They tied it, then the Cards went ahead by one. But all hell broke loose in the eighth, when the Phillies scored nine unanswered runs off of five Cardinal relievers, who combined to walk three, hit two, and give up five hits. The final score: 10-2.
On Wednesday it was all Cliff Lee again. He started the game throwing seven balls, then went on to pitch his second complete-game shutout in a row. Rollins hit a solo homer in the 3rd, Howard his a two-run shot, and the Phillies won 4-0.
Thursday's story was Roy Oswalt, who gave up four runs in two innings, then left the game with a sore back. The Phillies went on to lose ingloriously 12-2. But the story was Oswalt, who seemed to suggest that the back may be a season- (f not career-) ending injury. Oi vey.
Other injuries to ponder: Jose Contreras is back on the DL and Ryan Madison, conspicuously missing in action this week, has had numbness in his hand. The bullpen is again falling apart. J.C. Romero refused an assignment to Lehigh Valley and is now a free agent. All the work is being carried by the kids.
