Put another one in the loss column for the Frustratin' Phils

Lose.  Lose.  Lose.  That's the story of the Phillies last 3 games.

Tonight's game was the first in a pivotal series against the Astros.  With their win tonight, Houston moved into the lead in the wild card race.

Brett Myers gave up four quick runs in the first but settled down to give the Phillies bats a chance to battle back.  In never really happend.

The Phillies had their chances.  With bases loaded in the seventh, Ryan Howard came in to pinch hit for Myers.  Howard couldn't come through against the Astros lefty.  Rollins walked in a run to bring the Phillies within two runs, but Micheal Tucker grounded out to end the rally.

The Phillies had a chance again in the bottom of the 9th when Lofton reached on an infield single.  Lofton got moved over by a ground ball off of Shane Victorino's bat.  I questioned allowing Victorino to bat in this clutch situation, but he battled.  Lofton scored on a wild pitch and Howard walked.  In another move I questioned was using Kata as a pinch runner instead of Endy.  I don't really know anything about Kata's speed, which may tell you something.  Most Phillies fans know the kind of speed Endy has.. thats about all we know about him.  JRoll hit a double down the line to right which only moved Kata to third.  Would Endy have scored?

And so it goes for the Fightins.