Lidge tried, but couldn't blow his first save as a Phil

After Shane Victorino's three-run homer in the 8th gave the Phillies a 5-2 lead over the Cardinals, it seemed like a safe lead for the usually dependable bullpen.

But Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge weren't at their best in the 8th and 9th, allowing the Cardinals to load the bases in each inning before Lidge got out of his own jam: Phillies 5, Cardinals 4.

Because of the ugliness of the pen and the offense's late arrival to the party, Brett Myers' second good start in a row may be overshadowed: two earned, four hits, no walks and three strikeouts in six innings.

Since there has been talk that J.A. Happ is in Philadelphia because brass might want him to replace Myers or Joe Blanton in the rotation, each of the young veterans has pitched well. I'm willing to waste Happ's developmental time if it's the push these two starters need.

The competitors both lost, so the Phils have some breathing room heading into their series against the second-place Marlins, who trail by 2.5 games. The Astros, led today by former Phillie Randy Wolf, completed a sweep of the Mets for the first time since 1993, leaving the Mets three games out.

So what: I can understand a player getting one, I repeat one, standing ovation from the crowd if he used to play in a city. But I don't get the St. Louis fans going nuts every time So Taguchi pinch hits against the Cardinals. Tonight was especially inexcusable because he came up in the 7th with two men on and the Cardinals up by a run. Christine and I rooted for him to turn those cheers into jeers, but he didn't come through.

Red Sox: Three in a row for the new-look Red Sox as they completed a sweep of the A's with a 5-2 win. Another good game for Jason Bay (2-4 with two runs). Jed Lowrie is getting plenty of RBI opportunities hitting behind the new guy.

I'm probably overly critical of Daisuke Matsuzaka. He pitched well today: two earned, four hits, two walks, eight strikeouts in six innings. He wasn't terribly inefficient at 105 pitches. He didn't come out for the 7th after a rain delay.

The competitors both had dramatic comeback wins, so the Sox didn't improve their standings. (I incorrectly read the standings yesterday - I've had a lot on my mind.) They trail the Rays by three and lead the Wild Card by two over the White Sox and 2.5 over the Yankees.