Cole Hamels pitched eight innings but could not hold the slim one run lead provided to him as the Marlins Cody Ross slammed a game tying home run in the home team’s eighth at bat to knot the score at two.  Ryan Howard had staked Hamels to an early lead in the first inning as he singled to score Jimmy Rollins.  Howard knocked in his 87^th run of the year in the third frame as he doubled to score Chase Utley. 

  The Marlins scored their first run in the fourth inning as Jeremy Hermida touched Hamels for his 12^th home run of the season.  Meanwhile Josh Johnson kept the Phillies at bay till turning the game over to the bullpen with two outs in the sixth inning.

  The game advanced to extra innings and was finalized in the 11^th as Jorge Cantu delivered the game winner knocking in Alfredo Amezaga.  Clay Condrey absorbed the loss for the Fightins.  The Phillies left ten runners on base in the contest.  Shane Victorino joined Howard with two hits in the contest but timely hits were not found as six runners were left on base in scoring position.  With the win the Marlins pulled within ½ game of the Division lead while the Mets win over the Reds put them back into a first place tie with the Fightins.  The Phillies have an off day tomorrow but then open a three game series in New York on Tuesday which will determine the Division leader going into next weekends play.

  Chatter

 Geoff Jenkins had to leave the game with a contusion on his shoulder after his bat splintered in a sixth inning at bat.  A portion of the bat knocked him down as it broke.  Maple bats and the way they shatter is a concern for fear that someone might get seriously hurt at some point.  These bats tend to splinter when they break. Brett Myers is slated to join the team and pitch against the Mets on Wednesday.  He has stated that he has his swagger back and is ready to go……… here is hoping swagger keeps the fastball out of the middle of the plate!