There’s no better vibe killer in baseball than a well-executed 9th-inning meltdown by a reliever.
It happened again last night. The Phillies, riding 10 wins in their last 11 games and another heroic performance from an offensive slugger, this time Rhys Hoskins’ four hits, two home runs and six RBIs that included a go-ahead homer in the bottom of the 8th, handed their closer a one-run lead.
Once again, somehow, the Phillies lost.
It was Corey Knebel’s turn once again to turn a wild, rousing, would-be victory into a heart-sinking, depressing, last inning defeat at the hands of a division rival.