Phils’ rally comes up short

WASHINGTON - On a Phillies roster packed with electric personalities and burgeoning celebrities, Joe Blanton is the Phillies' silent stopper. His quiet effectiveness provides balance for this high-profile team, which can almost always rely on him for a solid game.

But in a month when everything seems to be souring for the Phils, Blanton tonight became the latest player to suffer a sharp downturn. At the conclusion of this forgettable road trip against the dregs of the league, the righthander endured his worst start of the year, allowing eight runs in 42/3 innings in an 8-7 loss to Washington at Nationals Park.

Matt Stairs' ninth-inning grand slam, his first hit since July 11, provided a late lift and nearly instigated a comeback. But with the tying run on third, Ryan Howard grounded into a game-ending double play. Despite the interesting conclusion, the Phils went 2-5 on the trip against Houston and Washington, and now limp home with many concerns.

Their lineup is struggling, and their rotation seems suddenly more vulnerable than it did in August. Nearly every member of the bullpen that guided the Phils toward a championship last year is bothered by one injury or another, and three pitchers are vying for the job of playoff closer. The talented top three batters in the lineup, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Chase Utley, have been invisible this month. Howard is in his typical late-season uptick with few runners to drive in.

Usually, Blanton is the soother of whatever ails the Phillies at the time of his start. The righthander methodically pounds the strike zone, pitches inside when necessary, and seems to yawn at runners in scoring position. Since May, the Phils could rely on a quality start in nearly every outing from the low-key stopper.

Since allowing five runs May 21 in a win at Cincinnati, Blanton had allowed three earned runs or fewer in 17 of 18 starts. The lone exception was four-run outing.

Through the first two innings, Blanton appeared yet again to be fulfilling that stabilizing role. Pitching with a 2-0 lead, he sailed through a hitless beginning.

But the Nats tied the score in the third when Pete Orr knocked in two with a one-out triple. They took the lead in the next inning on a one-out RBI double by Ian Desmond, his first major-league hit. Desmond also squelched the burgeoning rally when, after Blanton walked Wil Nieves, Livan Hernandez sacrificed. An overzealous Desmond was thrown out trying to score on the play, which kept it 3-2 Washington.

After the Phils' offense snoozed through yet another inning, Blanton began the fifth by allowing a double to Willie Harris. Jayson Werth dashed to snag the ball in right field, but it popped out of his glove. The official scorer ruled it a two-base hit.

Blanton then got two quick outs and was nearly out of the inning before his night collapsed. Adam Dunn clocked a two-run homer, Josh Willingham and Elijah Dukes walked, and Desmond followed with his first home run. With Washington leading by 8-2, Blanton was done.