Game #27

PHILLIES 2, CARDINALS 1 (10 innings)

If the Phillies would have lost this game, it would have been inexcusable. I respect Charlie Manuel, but his decision to leave Cole Hamels in for the ninth innings was extremely head scratching.

Hamels was great tonight. Though I do think he's a bit overrated, he can be as good as any southpaw when he's right, and he was right today. However, he wasn't invincable, and apparently that's what Manuel must have saw in Hamels because in the top of the ninth inning, with Hamels already having thrown 111 pitches, Manuel decided to send his starter back out onto the mound with a 1-0 lead. Hamels threw five pitches in the ninth, allowed the Cardinals to tie the game, and then he was done. If the Cardinals would have pushed across another run in that inning, Hamels would have been in line for a very undeserved loss. The Phillies' bullpen bailed Manuel out by holding the Cardinals back until catcher Carlos Ruiz ended the game with a 10th inning walk-off home run.

This game would have been a steal for the Cardinals. Can't cry over it. It was deja vu for Adam Wainwright, who pitched well but was once again outpitched by a strong lefty. This is exactly what happened against Barry Zito and the Giants. But at least Waino didn't get the loss this time.

Tomorrow night is a big one. The Cardinals would love to come away with a split in this one. Brad Penny vs Kyle Kendrick appears to favor STL. Also, keep an eye on the hot-hitting David Freese. The kid, who had two hits tonight, has an eight game hitting streak going.

Boxscore courtesy of mlb.com.