Road To 10,000 Losses: Replay

Road to 10,000 Losses is a countdown to the Phillies’ 10,000th loss, coming sometime later this year. With a 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks last night, the Phillies stand at 9974 losses, only 26 away from 10,000.

PHOENIX — For the first time since 1947, two major league teams agreed to play “pretty much the same game” for the second night in a row, as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-2.

“I don’t really know why the players wanted to do it,” said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. “I was reading on the SABR-L listserv about the ban on fraternization in the rulebook, and I really don’t get why our boys wanted to do this, but they figured they were gonna lose anyway and could use the day off.”

The Phillies lost the previous night, 4-3. While the runs were scored in a different manner and fewer relievers were used last night, the games took essentially the same form: Diamondbacks lead early, Phillies rally to tie it twice, but fade away in a late one-run loss. At no point did any Phillies fan watching believe the local nine would rally to win the game.

With the deal, Greg Dobbs got to hit his first home run of the season, while Chase Utley was allowed to hit his fifth. The Diamondbacks wouldn’t agree to a pinch-hit Ryan Howard homer, a stance than nearly blew the deal.

“Not even I would give up a home run to Ryan Howard at this point,” said rookie D-Backs pitcher Micah Owings.

Phillies pitcher Adam Eaton was also allowed to make a “quality start,” defined as three runs or fewer over six-plus innings. Eaton went 7 innings and gave up 3 runs, but did pick up another loss.

The Phillies return to action tonight at 6:40 p.m. No word if a deal has been made for tonight’s game, but it’s likely the team has actually already left on a chartered plane to Philadelphia and the last game of the roadtrip will be played by Phillies impersonators and Rod Barajas.

Update, 2:00 p.m.: Mike’s Baseball Rants notes if the Phillies lose by one run tonight, the Diamondbacks will pass the Phils in winning percentage in all-time one-run games.