A basic play: ground ball to second, flip it over to the pitcher covering to end an inning. The Phils had 2 chances to do this in the bottom of the 10th the end the inning but failed both times against the Cardinals on Sunday.  An odd way to lose a game, but the Phils still ended the road trip with a 5-4 record.

Cardinals Catcher Yadier Molina deserves a lot of credit for the win. With pinch runner Eric Bruntlett on third and going on contact, Jimmy Rollins hit a ground ball to first base. The throw pulled Molina slightly toward first, and as he turned back to his right, Bruntlett ran right into him. He held onto the ball for the out but was taken away on a cart as a precaution. It is said to be back and neck pain. The odd part of the play is that Bruntlett could have avoided the collision if he slid into home. But there was no time to assume that the throw was going to pull Molina off the plate.

This was a game the Phils should have won. Cards pitchers walked in two runs, but Brett Myers did not help matters by allowing 6 earned runs in 6 innings. He continues to struggle in regaining his form as a starter.

On a positive note, Ryan Howard went 3 for 5 with 2 HR and 4 RBI to lead the Phils to an 8-2 win over the Red Sox on Monday night. He is now hitting .224, the highest for him since he was hitting .235 after 17 at bats on April 5.  Cole Hamels pitched 7 solid innings, while only giving up back to back HR to Duston Pedroia and JD Drew.

Kyle Kendrick goes for the Phils tonight in Game 2 of the series.

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