I’m sure I’ll get a chance to write the Phillies off another time or two over the next two weeks (you won’t ever hear me chanting E-A-G-L-E-S; instead, I’ll just start watching college football without noticing the baseball scores, as I already did four days ago). But symbolically, tonight has real potential as the moment of their Wild Card Death.

Top of the 1st:

The Phillies escaped a jam by turning a triple play against the Rockies, ending what could have been a disastrous first inning.

With runners on first and second, Matt Holliday smoked a low line drive that Dobbs snared for the first out.


Dobbs fired to second to double off Cory Sullivan for the second out, and Chase Utley (above) completed the play by tagging Troy Tulowitzki, who was running from first.

Score it 5-4.

Bottom of the 1st (bases loaded, no outs):

R Howard struck out swinging.

A Rowand fouled out to catcher

G Dobbs flied out to left.

Top of the 2nd:

COLORADO CATCHER YORVIT TORREALBA WAS EJECTED… FOR ARGUING WITH HOME PLATE UMPIRE BILL WELKE.

Top of the 4th:

Kyle Kendrick became the latest injury casualty for the Phillies, when a line drive by Garrett Atkins forced him from Tuesday’s start.

Atkins led off the fourth by singling off Kendrick’s right knee. The ball bounced in the air and landed toward third base. Kendrick took one step toward first, then crumpled in pain.

He stayed on the ground for several minutes before being helped off the field by head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan by pitching coach Rich Dubee.

From there, John Ennis allowed six runs (five earned and one inherited) and reliever Mark Redman (who began the evening with an 11.86 E.R.A) pitched five shut-out innings for the 12-0 Rockies win.