Shane victorino ejected

Christian Rivera is a freelance writer
and graphic designer for myphl17.  Follow him on twitter @rivaldesign

On Charlie Manual bat day the Phillies couldn't put their own to use against the Braves in a 11-inning loss to the Braves.   

The first inning had fans nervous as Cole Hamels loads the bases early with no outs.  Troy Glaus grounds into a 4-3 double play, but Martin Prado scores to give the Braves an early lead.  Hamels luckily escapes any further damage, but expends quite a few pitches in the top of the first.

In a quick answer back Raul Ibanez shows he's okay with being in the 3-hole and hits a 2-run homer in the 1st inning to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. 



The Phillies keep a lead until the 4th when the Braves' David Ross hits an RBI single and ties the game at 2.

Hamels, at 117 pitches, ends up striking out the side, but not without casualties.  Martin Prado hits a solo-homer to give the Braves a 3-2 lead in the top of the 7th.

Leading off the bottom of the 7th, Raul Ibanez draws a walk to get on base with Ryan Howard heading to the plate.  Ryan Howard has been long overdue for a big hit and just as @KevinMcAlpin points that out on twitter, Ryan hits an RBI triple just off the top of the fence bringing in Ibanez and tying the game at 3. 

With a man on third and none out, Jayson Werth steps up to the plate with an opportunity to bring in the go-ahead run.  Trade rumors are leaving Jayson Werth with something to prove and he needs to come up big here, but he comes up short as he strikes out looking.  Ben Francisco flies out to center, but not long enough to drive in the run.  Wilson Valdez then grounds out in a close play by Chipper Jones and Ryan Howard is stranded at 3rd in the bottom of the seventh.

Jose Contreras is brought out to hold it down in relief for Hamels who pitched a line of 7IP, 8H, 3R, 2BB, 8K, 1HR, 117 pitches.  Contreras gets into early trouble getting a runner on first and one on third, but they manage to escape the threat and head into the bottom of the 8th where the Phillies are retired in order. 

Enter Brad LIdge who impressively retires the Braves in order, striking out Eric Hinske on an 0-2 pitch in familiar fashion. 

The Phillies have Victorino, Ibanez and Howard coming up in the bottom of the 9th.  The Phillies have 8 wins this season in their last at-bat, the Braves have 15. 

Unfortunately, all three batters are sat down and everyone gets treated to some free baseball.

In the top of the 11th, Matt Diaz hits an RBI double giving the Braves a 4-3 lead.  To make matters worse, the Braves add 2 more insurance runs with a 2-Run HR to right.  The Braves send Billy Wagner in to close it out and that's exactly what he does. 

With only 3 hits tonight the Phillies are back to being 5 games out of first place.  The fans remain frustrated with the teams' lackluster performance, but somewhat hopeful that this can still turn around. 

Tomorrow's match-up with the Braves is Medlen vs. Moyer on CSN at 7:05p.

Note: J.A. Happ has been reactivated, but sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, hoping that additional time in the Minors will help him
regain his form from last season.  It's said by Rich Dubee that he hasn't suffered from any set-backs health wise and simply needs to get back into the swing of things.

"If he's being truthful, and he's healthy, he needs reps," Dubee said.
"You don't just pick a baseball up and [say], 'Here I am.' "

Also, Ryan Madsen may be back as soon as Wednesday and Carlos Ruiz will began a rehab stint on Wednesday.