Phillies lose wild game to Astros in 16 innings

Howard went 0-for-7 with five strikeouts, the last coming on a questionable called strike by third-base umpire Scott Barry that resulted in his ejection. In four games since returning from a sprained ankle that sidelined him for close to 3 weeks, he is 2-for-19 with 10 strikeouts. In his last eight games overall, he is 2-for-32 with 18 strikeouts.

By the sixth, the Phillies had gone 25 straight innings without scoring a run with Hamels on the mound (the two runs they scored in a 5-2 loss to the Giants last week came after the lefty had departed). That's when they finally got on the board against 25-year-old righthander Bud Norris, who in April had lasted only 2 2/3 innings against them in an 8-0 Astros loss.

Jayson Werth hit a two-out single, then scored on a double by Ibanez to cut the Phils' deficit to 2-1.

Hamels' last victory came on July 11 in a 1-0 win over the Reds. In eight subsequent starts, he is 0-3, despite a 2.83 ERA.

The Phillies' strong bullpen effort included a scoreless ninth inning from closer Brad Lidge, who lowered his ERA to 3.86. *

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