Phillies Bullpen Implodes in 9th, Keeps Hamels From Winning 15th

Wow.   What a collapse.  The Phillies were just inches away from closing within 7 games of a wild card spot and keeping some playoff chances alive, though remind.  Instead, the Phillies would end the game 9 games behind the Braves in the Wild Card race and 8 games behind St. Louis.

This game had "Phillies sweep" written all over it.  The Phillies scored five runs in the first inning off of Braves starter Paul Maholm and another two runs  in the third on a Cole Hamels RBI double.  But, the Phillies offense would not score another run.

The Braves put together three runs during Hamels' six innings of work.  But, around 100 pitches and with a four-run lead, the Phillies thought the bullpen would be unable to screw that up.  They did not in the seventh.  They did not in the eighth.  However, there are nine innings in major league ballgames, and this one was no fun.

Jeremy Horst got the last out of the seventh and all three in the eighth no problem.  But the Phillies decided to let him enter the ninth.  Horst got one out but walked two, including .197-hitting Paul Janish.  The Phillies would have to call on Jonathan Papelbon.

After getting Lyle Overbay out for the second out, Michael Bourn walked on a very close pitch that would have been a strike three, if the letters were truly the top of the strike zone loading the bases.   Martin Prado followed with a sharply hit ball down the third base line that Kevin Frandsen could not handle.  Two scored.

What followed was ugly.  Chipper Jones found the fastball he wanted and homered to right-center.  Phillies lose.