The Florida Marlins are knocking at our door now. The six and a half games that we’re behind in the wild card race doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s hard to make up that many games when so many teams are ahead of us (seven teams right now). We’re now seven games below .500 and you’d have to think Charlie Manual’s job is on the line.
On Friday, Dave Dellucci hit a solo homerun, and that was the Phillies offense. Outside of that, the Phillies had six singles. Adam Bernero, filling in for Bret Myers, was shelled to the tune of eight runs on seven hits and two walks in two innings. After that, the pen shut down the Jays but the offense couldn’t get anything done in the 8-1 loss.
Saturday was a little closer but a loss is a loss. Neither team scored through five innings and then the homeruns came. Cory Lidle took the loss despite a solid start and Jimmy Rollins had two hits, an RBI and a run in the 5-2 loss.
The win finally came yesterday. Chase Utley homered and drove in three runs and Bobby Abrea had three hits and four RBIs in the 11-6 win. Ryan Howard homered for the league leading 28th time this season. Geoff Geary picked up the win in relief of Aaron Fultz, who made his first career start after 381 career relief appearances.
Ryan Howard and Chase Utley made the All Star team so we’ll get to see them next week. Utley was voted in.
Next up for the Phillies are the first place Padres. This skid has to stop and it’d be nice if we could pick up some ground here this week heading into the break.
