For Phils, recent road trip
was a journey to Twilight Zone

In the batter’s box
By Matt Godfrey

So I’m watching this latest road series between the Phillies and the Florida Marlins and it becomes increasingly clear to me that they aren’t playing in Florida . . . nope, they are playing in the Bermuda Triangle.
Everywhere you turned, there was oddity after oddity throughout the series.
In the first game, Cole Hamels gave up four runs in one inning.
He also pitched only six innings.
I know that sounds like the furthest thing from strange, but it was the first time all year he had given up that many runs in one inning.
It also was the first time all month that he failed to go seven innings.
I’ve reached the point where I almost expect Hamels to come out and throw a near perfect game.
Then the next morning there is news that the Phillies are interested in retired reliever Troy Percival.
At first this sounds great to me. I don’t think anyone would be picky about who they bring in to try to shore up the shaky bullpen. Then I heard that Percival found he had recovered his arm speed while throwing at his son’s Little League practice. So this guy is throwing heaters past 8-year-olds and now he thinks he is ready for the major leagues again.
All I can hear in my head is those stories last season of how Roger Clemens threw at his own son during an Astros minor league game.
Anyway, still not going to be picky.
Then there is the middle game of the Phils/Marlins series, which truly veered to the Twilight Zone.
Specifically the ninth inning.
First, interim first-baseman Greg Dobbs fielded a bunt by Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez with a runner on third and no outs. The runner on third wasn’t the tying or winning run, so Dobbs should have just tagged first base and taken the out.
Instead he threw home. A collective "What the hell?!?!" could almost be heard from everyone in the stadium.
Next, Aaron Boone singled to left and Ramirez was sent home to try to tie the game.
Jayson Werth fielded the ball cleanly and threw perfectly to catcher Rod Barajas — with so much time until Ramirez reached the plate that Barajas could have taken a nap.
Maybe he did. Rather than challenge Ramirez and make the tag, Barajas decided to stand and the thankful Ramirez slid right under him.
After the game, Barajas delivered a statement. It sounded like he just wasn’t up for taking a hit from Ramirez at the plate.
It also sounded to me like he just doesn’t want to be a starting catcher anymore.
Then, Brett Myers, who arguably shouldn’t have even been in the game when this horrid ninth inning started, was forced to throw longer because of these miscues. The very first pitch after the Barajas incident, Myers pulled up lame — a strained shoulder muscle in his throwing arm. (He’s also on the DL now.)
Somehow, the Phils still ended up winning the game, meaning they needed to win the final game to keep alive their streak of series wins.
Game three: Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis vs. Phillies workhorse Jon Lieber.
Nothing abnormal happened, really.
Oh, aside from Abraham Nunez getting punched in the head . . . and Pat Burrell being called safe when he was out by 10 feet . . . oh, and the benches-clearing bit of machismo that almost led to a brawl.
You read all that correctly.
Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo accidentally hit Nunez in the head while trying to throw out Jimmy Rollins at second base.
This was seemingly unintentional, but Nunez ended up leaving the game with a mild concussion.
The Burrell thing is pretty self-explanatory.
Then the Marlins showed themselves to be the thugs they really are. Reminiscent of a backyard baseball game, Willis decided that his pride was hurt and he needed to give it a lift.
He still wasn’t pleased with a Lieber wild pitch that sailed behind Willis as he batted earlier in the game. Later, he decided to sail a pitch behind Lieber.
And with his feelings bruised, Willis moped off the mound in the top of the fourth inning and started taunting the Phillies dugout. Benches and bullpens cleared on both sides; there was plenty of pushing and testosterone, but nothing real threatening.
The game resumed. The Phils eventually lost in extra innings. No series win this time.
Hopefully they fly out of the Bermuda Triangle and forget all that weirdness.
The games ahead have to be more normal. ••
Columnist Matt Godfrey can be reached at 215-354-3113 or mgodfrey@phillynews.com