Series split a major letdown

Sigh. I don't want to talk about it.

The Phillies had several chances to add to their early 3-1 lead but couldn't pull through. Then, Rudy Seanez and Brad Lidge allowed four runs in the 8th, giving the Mets a 6-3 win. All base runners in the 8th came with two outs. Carlos Delgado had two home runs and drove in half of the Mets runs.

So, in five series against New York this year, the Phils are 5-10. They have beaten the Mets just once in each series, usually in dramatic fashion. Four of the five wins were the first game in the series. What does this mean? I don't know. Phillies stink. They're a half-game out again and start a four-game series against the Cubs on Thursday. Let's hope the bullpen is refreshed by then.

Broadcast notes: Gary Matthews will be singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" tomorrow night in Chicago. Tom McCarthy dared him to say Phillies instead of Cubs during the song. ... Chris Wheeler annoyingly kept referring to Daniel Murphy as David Murphy. Then he acknowledged that he was accidentally doing this and told some story about a kid named Danny Murphy from his high school. Then he called Daniel David for the rest of the night. Stop talking, Wheels.

Red Sox: They crushed the Yankees 11-3. Dustin Pedroia hit a grand slam, his first, during a seven-run 8th inning.

But, as usual, the Rays also won. The Red Sox remain 3.5 games back in the East. It's almost time to stick a fork in the Yankees. They are now 10.5 games back and 7 games out of the Wild Card; the Sox have the Wild Card lead, 2.5 games up on the Twins.