Phillies come up short in late comeback, lose 8-6 to Braves

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Brett Myers dug the Phillies a hole they couldn't quite find their way out of. Myers pitched one of his worst games in recent memory, allowing 8 runs in just 4 and 1/3 innings. Things started off terrible for Myers, who gave up a lead-off home run to Yunel Escobar and then let up another homer to Chipper Jones two batters later. In all, the Braves tagged Myers for 9 hits and 3 home runs en route to an 8-6 win over the Phillies.

Once Myers left the game, the Phillies bullpen did what it does best: shut the opposition down. Ryan Madsen, Clay Condrey and Rudy Seanez combined to shut out the Braves the rest of the way and opened the door to a Phillies comeback.

Tom Glavine started for the Braves and put forth a vintage Glavine effort until the Phils offense woke up in the 6th inning. Led by Chase Utley's 14th homer of the season, the Phillies cut the Braves lead in half down to 8-4 in the 6th. From there, a Ryan Howard homer in the 8th pulled Philadelphia within 3 runs and then things got interesting in the 9th. The Phillies managed to get two guys on base for Jimmy Rollins, who hit one run in to cut the lead down to two. Shane Victorino then had a chance at glory and hit a long out to right field to end the game.

Brett Myers needs to shape up. He took the loss tonight, dropping his record to 2-4 and raising his ERA to 5.91. For a guy who is supposedly the Phillies second best starter, he has yet to put together two solid starts in a row. His struggles bring the entire rotation down and make it so the only guy the Phils can rely on is Cole Hamels. Perhaps Myers is having problems adjusting back into the starting role. Whatever the issue is, he better figure things out quickly.

The Phillies wrap up their series with the Braves tomorrow night when Cole Hamels takes the mound against Chuck James. After that, interleague play begins with the Phillies taking on the Blue Jays in a three game set this weekend. I am getting sick of seeing the Florida Marlins sitting atop the NL East. The Phillies have everything in place offensively and in the bullpen and it's up to the starting pitchers to pull themselves together so the Phils can reclaim their spot at the top of the division.