Phillies Live: Five-Run Deficit? No Problem

Just thought I'd do something new here at TheNLEastBlog.com with live in-game updates of the Phillies-Braves series finale...

-Phillies-Braves was delayed, oh, about 2 1/2 hours. Joe Blanton started and allowed two first-inning runs. The Phillies kicked up a fuss in the bottom of the first, but Chase Utley was gunned down trying to hustle from first to home on a single to the gap by Ryan Howard.

- When the game resumed, the Phillies had the base loaded with two outs in the second inning. Jimmy Rollins struck out looking at a breaking ball that was right down the chute.

- So, Adam Eaton comes out for the third inning. Painless three outs. In the top of the fourth, Eaton the Destroyer rears his ugly head. He surrendered back-to-back home runs to Kelly Johnson and Omar Infante and nearly a third to 0-for-19 Jo-Jo Reyes. Luckily, Eaton got Gregor Blaco to ground into an inning-ending double play.

-Words cannot describe how bad Adam Eaton is. I know I'm hyperbolizing (but am I???), Eaton has to be the worst pitcher in franchise history. Yes, I know Eaton has some stiff competition here, but I can't think of a guy who has infuriated a fanbase more often than Eaton. He has absolutely no business on a big-league roster. No business!

-Somehow, the Phillies rake Braves pitching... all the time. It's unreal, man. If this were like the Red Sox or Cubs, I'd figure the Phillies would be dead in the water down 5-0 in the fourth. But, as they did yesterday, the Phillies came right back and scored five runs quick. Chris Coste blasted a two-run homer and Shane Victorino hit a three-run bomb to tie the game.

-Pat Burrell greeted Julian Tavarez with a solo shot in the fifth inning to put the Phils ahead 6-5. Pretty amazing to see a struggling offense produce big innings in back-to-back games. Maybe it's only because they're up against the Braves... who are having the worst of times against the Phillies this season (2-9 in 11 games). Hopefully, the Phillies' bat are finally starting to click...

-Oh, Clay Condrey just finished his second straight scoreless inning. Do us a favor, Chuck. When you're in need of a long reliever, go with Condrey... and not Adam Eaton.

-Hey, a Carlos Ruiz sighting! The struggling catcher leads off the sixth inning with a double...

- Shane Victorino ropes a single to center field, scoring Ruiz. 7-5 Phils!

-Oh man. Victorino leveled Brian McCann at the plate and McCann is down and out. Ryan Howard poked a single to right field to score Rollins and Victorino. McCann couldn't quite position himself and Victorino went in with his helmet. It looked like Victorino popped McCann right on the chin. OK, after a brief wow-this-could-be-bad moment, McCann is back on his feet. He'll leave the game. I love McCann. I'd die to have on the Phillies. I was fortunate to interview him in 2006 and he's great to talk to. Very well-liked guy, too.

-So, I'll back tonight with some more notes and commentary from this goofy game (thank you Chris Wheeler). The Phillies really, really need a series win