COORS AND A CHASER

It was close, but that's one. The Phils overcame a blown hold by Oogie Urbina to prevail over the Colorado Rockies 8-5 last night. I only watched to the point where Chase Utley hit a two-run homer to make it 5-2. I assumed that the scoring was only just beginning, and I was right, but to a lesser degree than normal at Coors Field. Robbie Tejeda was adequate, pitching five and a third innings and giving up only three runs. After he left, Frenchie Cormier yielded yet another homer, to the other Luis Gonzalez in the seventh, and then Urbina allowed the tying run in the eighth on singles by such luminaries as Garrett Atkins, Eric Byrnes, and Jorge Piedra.

The Phils quickly jumped on the third Rockies reliever, Mike "Grey Poupon" DeJean, to start the ninth. David Bell led off with a double, and was pinch run for by Matt Kata. Ramon Martinez laid down a successful sacrifice, followed by an unsuccessful attempt by Endy Chavez to hit an RBI grounder. J-Roll was intentionally passed, and then Tomas Perez plated Kata with an infield hit to break the tie. Our boy Utley then smacked his second double of the game to clear the bases to make it 8-5. Daddy Wags, in perhaps one of his final appearances as a Phillie, earned his 22nd save with a perfect ninth.

In a very disturbing report on Baseball Prospectus, Will Carroll mentioned that the Pirates are working on shipping, gulp, Jose Mesa, along with former Astros prospect and major disappointment Daryle Ward to the Phillies (or to the Mets). He said the Pirates are looking for minor and major leaguers in return. Please, Ed, if you're actually going to make this deal, just come to my house armed with a .45 and blow my brains out. I wouldn't have much to live for anyway.

Last night's win vaulted us over the Mets and into a tie with the Marlins for third. The Braves are steaming off into the distance toward division crown number 14 straight after sweeping the Nats. Their lead is now three over Washington, whose prowess in one-run games has evaporated like a shot of Everclear in Death Valley (today's high: 116). Jeff Francoeur, who started the season at AA Mississippi, hit a pair of homers to provide the margin of victory, and has 5 dingers in 34 at-bats. Why are we even bothering? Oh yeah, the wild card. Now, if Clemens, Oswalt, and Pettitte all get hurt...