Another rookie pitcher with a 6.00+ ERA dominates the Phillies, another bang up job by the bullpen to make a closer game a laugher, another Braves victory, and the Magic Number remains at 3.
Astros' rookie Yorman Bazardo held the Phillies to just two hits and two runs (one on a balk) over 5 2/3 innings pitched, with the Phillies hitting bolts right at the Houston fielders, while Cole Hamels for the Phillies fell victim to bloops and broken bat dribblers, and was on the hook for six of the Astros eight runs over 6 2/3 innings, the last two of which were allowed to score when Tyler Walker failed to get an out in the seventh inning. The Astros scored five runs in the seventh inning -- all with two outs.
The Astros bullpen did their job, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings and surviving a little "scare" in the ninth but escaping after Greg Dobbs grounded into a double play to end the game.
The Phillies 3-7 hitters (Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Feliz) went 1-for-15 with three walks, which tells you about all you need to know about the offense tonight.
God this is painful to watch.