Uh-oh!

OK, now We are in deep trouble. When your Staff Ace goes out and loses game 1 of a 5 game series, you've got problems. Major problems. Problems that are compounded by the fact that you are sending out a rookie to pitch game 2.

Rockies 4 Phillies 2. Sorry, Cole Hamels. Hello, Kyle Kendrick.

I, like most others, felt that if the Phillies lost, it would be something along the lines of 7-5 or 9-8. But when you "hold" a streaking Colorado team to 4 runs (on just 6 hits), you kind of expect to win, right?!?

But if a frightening flashback to April, when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard couldn't hit anything, the top of the lineup (J-Roll, Shane Victorino, Utley & Howard) went 0-15 with 9 strikeouts.

Oh-for-15...9 whiffs.

That's so bad, it's almost impossible to comprehend.

And if it continues, this series will be over Saturday night in Colorado.

Honestly, I knew the Phillies were in trouble after the first inning. J-Roll starts off 3-0. Last Sunday's game against the Nationals quickly flashed into my mind. Rollins starts the game off on first base, quickly causes havoc on the bases and then scores via Utley or Howard. Having grabbed a quick lead, the Phillies never look back and quickly burst Colorado's bubble of invincibility.

Nope. J-Roll took a called strike, swung and missed at ball four and then struck out swinging. Utley and Howard followed suit by also striking out. And just like that, Colorado pitcher Jeff Francis, the same guy who entered the game with an ERA of over 15 against the Phillies, had all the confidence in the world.

So, the Phillies' playoff hopes rest on the right shoulder of 23-year old Kyle Kendrick. 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA, he was one of the few bright spots in the rotation this year. But if the cocky Hamels admitted the pressure got to him yesterday, how will Kendrick (who didn't even make the team coming out of spring training) handle it?

At least streaky hitters Aaron Rowand and Pat "The Bat" Burrell hit dingers yesterday. If their brothers at the top of the lineup snap back to their normal selves, the series should be tied 1-1 by dinner time.