Phils give up big inning, lose 5-2

What could have been a champagne drenched locker room turned into just another post game interview spot.  The Phillies woke up Saturday morning with hopes of wrapping up the NL East division for a fourth straight year.  The Braves blanked the Nationals 5-0 in a day game canceling all hopes of clinching tonight against the Mets.  And then the seventh inning happened to the Phillies.  Magic number is still at two after losing tonight 5-2.

So let’s recap.  The win steak is over.  The playoff push is on pause; for now.  The Phillies could not figure out Mets’ rookie Dillon Gee, managing only five hits and two runs.  Hitting his 31st home run of the season, Ryan Howard is responsible for all the Phillies’ scoring for the night.  With two hits in the first inning, the Phils looked to continue their September slugfest against the Mets.

However, after the second inning, the offense went to sleep collecting only three more hits and none after the seventh.  Kyle Kendrick kept the offense in the game through six innings allowing only three hits and no runs.  But after allowing a run in the seventh and loading the bases, Kendrick was pulled for Chad Durbin.  Durbin allowed a three run double to Lucas Duda and another RBI double to Joaquin Arias.

The Phillies went into the seventh inning winning 2-0 and left trailing 5-2.

The Phillies can still clinch the division tomorrow with a win paired with a Braves loss.  If not, they will have to do it on the road in Washington or Atlanta.

Keep the champagne on ice and plastic rolled up.  But don’t put it away.  The Phillies will still need it.  Cole Hamels goes tomorrow for the Phils against Pat Misch.