The Zo Zone

I can't remember the particulars anymore, but one night several years ago after some crazy happenings during a Phillies game, former Phillies manager Larry Bowa said, "That's why they call it baseball."

I said to myself, "I thought thought they call it baseball because they use bases and a ball?"

Nevertheless ... yesterday was one of those that's-why-they-call-it-baseball days. After the Phillies choked away a 5-1 lead Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park, they scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning yesterday to help beat the Brewers in 11 innings, 8-6. The Phillies had no business winning yesterday, just like the Brewers had no business winning Saturday.

But it happened both times.

"Ninth inning, we're losing by five, do you think we have a chance to come back?" said Jose Mesa, who picked up the save in the 11th (he now has a franchise record 112 saves). "The team was down from the first inning. In the ninth, somehow they picked it up. I don't know what happened, but we did it."

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The official scorer changed Aaron Rowand's ninth-inning hit into an error about an hour after the game. I agree with the change. There's no reason why Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun should not have made that play, which would have ended the game and preserved the Brewers' victory.

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Adam Eaton continues to be a major concern.

He has a 6.09 ERA, which is the worst ERA in the National League and the third-worst ERA in baseball. He has had just one quality start in his last nine starts, and none in his last six starts. He has been terrible in the first and second innings, allowing 19 runs in the the first inning and 23 runs in the second inning.

That's 42 runs in 46 innings.

He actually has had just four out of 23 starts where he hasn't allowed a run in the first and second inning.

Eaton is fully aware of his early-inning struggles. In fact, when I approached him in the visitor's clubhouse at Miller Park, he asked, "What's my first-inning ERA?" I told them that it's more than 7 ... I actually meant his ERA in his first two innings is more than 7. (But that's splitting hairs.) Eaton has been terrible early in games, and that must improve. Then again, everything must improve. Especially considering the Phillies signed him to a three-year, $24.5 million contract in the off-season, which must make front office officials more than a little queasy at the moment.

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I liked the fact that Charlie Manuel returned Jimmy Rollins to the leadoff spot, especially with Pat Burrell hitting the cover off the ball. It made no sense to hit Rollins third with the new leadoff hitter never reaching base, just like it made no sense to keep hitting Burrell sixth with no chance to drive anybody in. If Burrell can keep hitting -- even if it's not at his current pace -- this should be a much better lineup than the one Manuel fielded last week.

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Isn't it ironic that the Phillies get two decently pitched games from Kyle Kendrick and Cole Hamels on Friday and Saturday and lose, but get a poorly pitched game from Eaton yesterday and win? Unfortunately for Hamels, that tough luck likely will prevent him from becoming the first Phillies pitcher to win 20 games since Steve Carlton in 1982.

Hamels is on pace to finish 17-7.

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Jim Salisbury writes about the imminent conclusion of Barry Bonds' home run chase. Thank goodness. I have never been so uninterested about a historic performance before. Get. It. Over. With.

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Saw David Wright on a commercial for Fathead and couldn't help but notice that the one pitcher featured after a Wright homer was former Phillies pitcher Gavin Floyd. By the way, Floyd threw six shutout innings yesterday against the Tigers.

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The chorizo won the famous Sausage Race yesterday, but that's only because the hot dog plowed into the mini-hot dog (they have relay races Sunday at Miller Park) and knocked the mini-hot dog on his butt. This caused a traffic jam and allowed Team Chorizo to win easily.