Phils win game but lose Myers

MIAMI - It turned from one of the most unbelievable meltdowns in memory into a full-fledged Code Red in minutes.

And the Phillies still won.

But at what price? Brett Myers, the team's most reliable pitcher in a porous bullpen, strained his right shoulder in the bottom of the ninth inning last night in an incredible but costly 8-7 victory over the Florida Marlins in 10 innings at Dolphin Stadium.

After the Phillies had blown a four-run lead in strikingly improbable fashion, Myers uncorked a wild pitch to Miguel Olivo and immediately grabbed his upper right arm. He left the game.

"I felt it after the first pitch to Olivo," Myers said, seated in a chair in the visitors' clubhouse with his shoulder wrapped in ice. "I didn't even know where the second one was going. I don't think [the shoulder] popped or tore. If it would have, I wouldn't have any strength in it right now. I have strength in it. I'll just find out how it feels tomorrow. A couple days, maybe? I don't know."

Or maybe much longer, which would be a major blow to the bullpen. The team said Myers could return to Philadelphia today for further examination.

But the Phillies (23-23) returned to .500 for the fourth time this season after Jimmy Rollins scored from third on a single to left by Abraham Nuñez in the top of the 10th inning.

It never should have gotten to that point. The Phils scored three runs in the top of the ninth to take a 7-3 lead. Myers, who had not pitched since Sunday, already had warmed up, so the Phillies sent him to the mound to finish the job. After a couple of flare singles started the inning, Dan Uggla ripped a two-run triple down the first-base line, making the score 7-5.

Hanley Ramirez then bunted a ball up the first-base line. He put the ball in a spot where the Phillies had no chance to throw out Uggla at home. Except first baseman Greg Dobbs picked up the ball and threw home instead of taking the sure out at first base.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee's eyes almost fell out of his head as he watched the play unfold from the Phillies dugout.

"I saw it all happen in super slow mo," Dobbs said. "As I released the ball I went, 'Whyyyyyyyyy?' "

"Nooooooooooooo," centerfielder Aaron Rowand said, impersonating his best slow-mo voice.

"I still can't grasp what I did," Dobbs said.

Instead of a 7-6 game with nobody on and one out, a runner was on first with no outs.

Myers struck out Miguel Cabrera, then hit Josh Willingham with a pitch. Jeremy Hermida struck out for the second out.

Could Myers work out of the jam? No. Aaron Boone singled to left. Marlins third-base coach Bo Porter sent Ramirez home. Jayson Werth had scooped up the ball and started his delivery home when Ramirez hit third.

Ramirez had no chance. None.

The throw arrived perfectly and in plenty of time. Catcher Rod Barajas just needed to block the plate and make the tag. But he eased out of his crouch and applied a high tag. Ramirez slid underneath Barajas' legs.

Home umpire Tim Timmons called him safe.

The Marlins erupted. The Phillies couldn't believe it. Manager Charlie Manuel and Barajas were ejected.

"I didn't see anything conclusive," Barajas said. "I think on a play like that and the ball beats him by 10 feet, if he can't be 100 percent sure he's out, I don't think you can call that."

But why stand up?

"I caught the ball down low, and I wasn't sure what he was going to do," he said. "I didn't want to get down low and have him take a good shot at me and maybe knock the ball out. I just wanted to make sure I was in a good position."

That's when Myers threw a 1-0 pitch to Olivo over Carlos Ruiz's head and pulled up lame. Clay Condrey (8-7) walked Olivo to load the bases, but he snared a line drive from Todd Linden straight at his heart to end the inning.

"Well, I would have died if it got me," Condrey said.

But at what price was this victory if the Phillies lose Myers for an extended period of time?

"I pray I didn't aid in him being out for a long time," Dobbs said. "I want to go over to him, and I can't even talk to him. I'm sick to my stomach. I'm praying to God he's going to be OK."

"The fact that we won, we could look back and laugh at some of these plays," Barajas said.

They hope so.