The Phils continue to play consistent ball. Consistently inconsistently.

They continue to be oh-for-the-West Coast after blowing a game they clearly should have won last night.

The Phils got three early home runs to build a 6-1 lead. Then they proceeded to provide those bleary-eyed fans who hung in there with the action from Los Angeles with a slow water torture as they frittered it away.

Nomar Garciaparra’s homer in the bottom of the 9th sealed the deal, and sent the Phils back to their hotel losers, and also no longer in sole possession of first place. The Mets won to pull into a tie with the Phils.

Do you think it dawned on anyone in the front office at the trade deadline when it became apparent that the Dodgers were in the lead to get Manny Ramirez that the Phillies had eight games against L.A. remaining on their schedule?

Once again last night Ramirez was the difference in the game.

Manny being Manny? Or just the Phillies being the Phillies?

This West Coast trip has the makings of a Bataan Death March for the Phils, who may return home next week no longer in the catbird’s seat in the NL East.