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Howard's HR lifts Phils over Mets in 10
2007-08-29
Ryan Howard's two-run home run off Guillermo Mota in the 10th inning capped a late rally and led the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-2 win over the New York Mets on Tuesday night. Shane Victorino, who scored the tying run in the eighth on a pair of bizarre plays, opened the 10th with a bloop single off Mota (1-1). Then Howard hit a 1-2 pitch deep the opposite way into the left-field seats for his 35th homer, giving the Phillies wins in the first two games of this pivotal four-game series. Brett Myers (3-5) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win. The Phillies now trail the NL East-leading Mets by four games. The Mets took a 2-0 lead into the eighth behind seven shutout innings from Tom Glavine. But the Phillies rallied against New York's bullpen with one of their more thrilling innings of the season. Pedro Feliciano got only two outs, allowed Jimmy Rollins' 23rd homer in the eighth, and was pulled for Aaron Heilman with a runner on first. Victorino, pinch-running for Pat Burrell, stole second and advanced to third on Paul Lo Duca's errant throw into center. Aaron Rowand chopped the ball in front of the plate, it took three small hops until it rolled to a dead stop halfway down the third-base line, stitches kissing the chalk, to tie the game. Jayson Werth followed with a broken bat single -- the splintered wood flying one way into the stands, Werth the other down the line -- and beat the throw on the infield grounder. Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs walked to load the bases, but Chris Coste was retired to end the rally. Until then, the highest-scoring offense in the National League was handcuffed by Glavine. Glavine's only serious threat came in the sixth with runners on the corners and one out. But Aaron Rowand flied out to shallow right and Jayson Werth was retired on a grounder to end the inning. Glavine walked none and struck out one. Glavine struck out Werth in the second inning, ending the right fielder's streak of hits in nine straight at-bats. Werth fell one shy of the team record set in 1897 by Ed Delahanty. Carlos Delgado gave the Mets a 2-0 lead with his two-run shot off Adam Eaton in the second. Delgado knocked a full-count pitch into the second deck for his 19th homer this season and No. 426 of his career, tying him with Billy Williams for 38th place on the career list. Making his first start since Aug. 11 because of a sore right shoulder, Eaton's 5 2-3 innings was actually his longest outing since a late July start. He still hasn't won since July 20th and has pitched beyond the sixth inning only once in his last seven starts. Eaton gave up five hits and lowered his abysmal 6.36 ERA -- the highest in the majors -- to 6.23. Notes:@ Mets RF Endy Chavez was activated from the DL and batted eighth. He went 0-for-4. ... RHP Brian Lawrence (1-2) was sent to Triple-A New Orleans to make room for Chavez. ... Glavine recorded his 2,557th career strikeout, putting him 26th on the career list. ... Manager Charlie Manuel said injured LHP Cole Hamels looked good during a bullpen session on Tuesday and should be ready to pitch in this weekend's series, probably Sunday, at Florida. ... After Eaton hit Carlos Beltran in the sixth, plate umpire Joe West warned both benches.
Phillies narrow gap on Mets after series sweep (2007-08-31)Mets looking over shoulders at Phillies (2007-08-31)Howard's HR lifts Phils over Mets in 10 (2007-08-29)Mets stun save king Hoffman to beat Padres (2007-08-22)Mets, Phillies beat NL West foes (2007-08-22)
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