Game Reax: Pitcher's Duel Ends Uggla

Cole Hamels was masterful.

So, for that matter, was Andrew Miller.

But it was free-swinging masher Dan Uggla who delivered a walkoff grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel the Florida Marlins to a 6-2 victory over the Phillies Wednesday night.

The Phillies have lost back-to-back games against the Marlins, who are within two games of first place.

Tom Gordon worked himself into trouble after the Phillies tied the game off closer Kevin Gregg in the top half. Utley hit into a fielder's choice, allowing Eric Bruntlett to score the game-tying run.

In the bottom half, Gordon was bad. The 40-year-old right-hander issued a leadoff walk to Hanley Ramirez. After Jeremy Hermida fouled out, Jorge Cantu hit a seeing-eye single through the hole on the left side of the infield. Wes Helms walked to load the bases. Uggla worked a 3-1 count to force Gordon in throwing a fastball right down the middle, which the second baseman ripped over the scoreboard in left field.

I question Charlie Manuel's decision to relieve Hamels with Gordon, who has had a history of scuffling in tie games. I'd much rather see J.C. Romero or Chad Durbin pitch the ninth. Romero and Durbin could have worked an easy inning, giving the Phillies the momentum to score in the 10th.

Not to be.

Hamels finished with 13 strikeouts and allowed only three hits. Thankfully, he didn't factor into the decision. He was hurt by a pair of solo homers off the bat of Cantu (apparently, the Marlins haven't a clue to score unless they hit the longball).

Utley drove in two runs for the Phillies, who hadn't lost two straight games since May 23-24.

Miller worked into the eighth inning. The Phillies once again struggled against left-handed starters... and that is a growing concern. Miller scattered four hits and fanned seven.

Games Notes & Opinions

- Someone, for the love of God, tell Pedro Feliz to STOP swinging at the first pitch all the time. And someone please inform him that, despite what he may think, not all pitchers are stupid enough to throw him a first-pitch fastball.

- Great job by Bruntlett in the ninth inning. After Greg Dobbs led off the frame with an infield single, Bruntlett came in to pinch run. Jimmy Rollins walked to force a first-and-second situation. With Shane Victorino up, Bruntlett noticed that third baseman Wes Helms was playing for a bunt. This allowed Bruntlett to steal third base with relative ease. Unfortunately, Victorino took a too-close-to-take called-third strike. Utley's grounder to second had all the makings of a game-ending double play, but Ramirez couldn't quite get the ball out of his glove in time.

Thanks to Bruntlett's heads-up baserunning, the Phillies managed to tie the game.

- As I mentioned, Gordon is not capable of pitching tie games in the ninth inning or later. He was brutally wild and it cost the Phillies a chance to win.

- The Phillies released veteran left-handed relief pitcher Steve Kline Wednesday. Kline, who was released by the Giants at the end of spring training, signed with the Phillies April 10. Kline spent his brief tenure with the organziation at class-AAA Lehigh Valley, where he posted a 5.16 ERA. Worse, left-handed batters were hitting .341.