Phil Heron, Delaware County Times:
Bottom line is this team has no business losing three straight to the Astros, regardless of how many questionable calls are made by the umps. Somewhere, Ed Wade is smiling.
Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Inquirer:
If the – ahem -- best lineup in the National League had been merely competent while Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels and Halladay were doing their jobs in this series, the Phillies would have greeted Thursday morning with a half-game lead over the Braves in the NL East. Instead, circumstance brought an Astros team with some edgy ex-Phillies to town just as the home team's lineup sputtered and stalled. Utley and Ryan Howard rejoined the team, but their swings remained on the disabled list.
The last thing the Phillies needed was the best darn crew of amateur umpires in baseball. Greg Gibson and his incredible moving baseline led to the winning run Monday night, but that was nothing compared to Barry's performance Tuesday.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
