Aug. 30 -- SURGERY FOR FREDDY (AND IN-GAME UPDATES)

This just in (although, it's hardly a surprise): Freddy Garcia is undergoing shoulder surgery today in Birmingham, Ala. Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews is performing the procedure.

Of course, that means Garcia has thrown his last pitch for the Phillies.

I'm guessing, Phillies fans, that you aren't shedding any tears. Garcia will be a free agent this winter, and he can forget about getting a raise from the $10 million he made this season. That said, I guarantee he signs a low-base, high-incentive contract with a team that wants to take a chance that he can get back to being his old, innings-eating self. If he does, it will be of little consolation to the Phillies, who believed they had found their ace when they traded for him in December.

(Update, 1:28 p.m.): 2-0 Phillies in the first inning. Ryan Howard just crushed a pitch from Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez over the fence in left-center.

(Update, 2:15 p.m.): 5-0 Phillies, third. So much for El Duque being the Mets' good-luck charm. Pat Burrell belted a two-run homer and Aaron Rowand added a solo shot in the third inning. The Mets have won El Duque's last nine starts.

(Update, 2:40 p.m.): 5-3 Phillies, fourth. I was about to write that Kyle Lohse is cruising. The mere thought must've jinxed him. Shawn Green's RBI double and a pinch-hit RBI single by Lastings Milledge trimmed the lead to two runs and knocked Lohse from the game.

(Update, 3:10 p.m.): 5-5, fifth. Thought it was going to be an easy win, didn't you? Geoff Geary, who replaced Lohse in the fourth inning, allowed two runs in the fifth. Jayson Werth just missed throwing out David Wright at the plate on Green's game-tying sacrifice fly.

(Update, 3:30 p.m.): 8-5 Phillies, fifth. Crazy game. Two two-out bloop RBI singles by Carlos Ruiz and pinch-hitting Shane Victorino restored the lead, and Jimmy Rollins added an RBI single up the middle against reliever Aaron Sele.

(Update, 4:35 p.m.): 10-8 Mets, eighth. After Clay Condrey breezed through two innings, Antonio Alfonseca imploded, allowing four runs without getting an out. And while Alfonseca will draw intense criticism for his performance, if the Phillies lose, a greater amount of scrutiny will go to Charlie Manuel for his unorthodox decision to intentionally walk Jose Reyes to put the go-ahead run on base. After Endy Chavez's two-run single tied the game at 8-8, the Mets executed a double steal with Reyes and Chavez. When Ruiz's throw went into left field, Reyes trotted home with the go-ahead run.

I've got to start hacking away for the print edition, but I'll open the floor to you. What did you think of Charlie's decision. (As I type that, Burrell homered again off Billy Wagner, on for a two-inning save, drawing the Phils within 10-9. Crazy, crazy game.)