On a night when a packed Citizens Bank Park paid tribute to the late, great Harry Kalas in the first home game since the legendary announcer's passing on Monday, the home team somehow blew a six-run lead and fell to the upstart San Diego Padres by the score of 8-7.
I haven't checked Fangraphs, but I have to imagine that after Pedro Feliz lined out to center stranding the bases loaded at the end of four innings, we were looking pretty good: 7-1 lead, Cole Hamels cruising, San Diego starter Chris Young banished to the showers. But the visitors came back with two-run homers in the fifth and sixth, and then tagged heretofore perfect Ryan Madson for three two-out runs in the eighth to seize the lead. Meanwhile, the Phils were stymied by five Padres relievers, the last three of whom (Cla Meredith, Duaner Sanchez, Heath Bell) I'd even heard of. Greg Dobbs was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Chase Utley's single to end the eighth, and Bell struck out Matt Stairs after falling behind 3-0 with Raul Ibanez on base to end it.
Lost in the wreckage was an excellent game from Ibanez, who went 3-3 with two walks and scored twice, as well as Utley's three-run homer in the first inning and a stirring Brad Lidge escape from a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 9th. Hamels was better than in his disastrous 2009 debut, but the three homers he allowed proved costly. In all, Hamels went six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out four. He threw 75 pitches.
The Phils try again Saturday evening when Brett Myers takes the ball against San Diego's Shawn hill.