National League Game Summary - Arizona at Philadelphia
(Sunday, August 5th)
Final Score: Philadelphia 5, Arizona 4
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard notched a game-winning base
hit in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies took the rubber match of
a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-4.
Howard snapped an 0-for-9 slump early in the game and delivered the bases-
loaded single, which scored Juan Pierre.
After becoming baseball's biggest seller at the July 31 trade deadline, the
Phillies took their second straight series.
"Those are character builders," Howard said. "We just want to continue to keep
a good character on the team and keep good chemistry."
Chase Utley homered for the Phillies, who have taken four of their last six
games overall.
Mother Nature did not cooperate with Cliff Lee, who was tagged for three home
runs on a blustery day at Citizens Bank Park. When Lee kept the ball in the
park, he was strong. He gave up four runs on eight hits in eight innings,
while striking out five without issuing a walk.
Trevor Cahill used a steady stream of sinkers to contain the Phillies'
hitters, but took a no decision after holding Philadelphia to three runs on
six hits in seven frames. He fanned six and walked two.
Chris Johnson, Stephen Drew and Paul Goldschmidt homered for the Diamondbacks,
who lost their second straight game.
The Phillies trailed for most of the game but tied the game in the eighth
inning. John Mayberry Jr. delivered a two-out infield single. After Mayberry
advanced to second on a wild pitch, Domonic Brown smoked a liner off pitcher
David Hernandez. Hernandez made an underhand attempt to retire Brown, but hit
him in the back with the toss. The error allowed Mayberry to race home, just
avoiding Henry Blanco's tag to tie the game.
After Jonathan Papelbon (3-4) worked a scoreless ninth, Pierre started the
bottom half of the frame with a base hit up the middle. Pierre advanced to
second on a sacrifice and to third when pinch-hitter Laynce Nix blooped a
single in and out of Justin Upton's glove, as Upton made a lunging attempt at
the ball. Josh Collmenter (3-3) intentionally walked Utley, but Howard lined a
single to right, scoring Pierre and giving the Phillies the win.
"It's tough," Upton said. "We think we played well enough to win it, but
sometimes it doesn't go your way."
The Diamondbacks got on the board in the second inning. After Upton singled,
Johnson crushed a no-doubt home run down the left-field line to spot the
Diamondbacks a 2-0 lead.
Drew made it back-to-back home runs when he sent a fly ball to straightaway
center field and the wind carried it just over the fence, giving Arizona a 3-0
lead.
The Phillies got two back in the bottom half of the second. Brown sliced a
double to the left-field gap, moving Mayberry to third. Cahill uncorked a wild
pitch that allowed Mayberry to score before Erik Kratz brought Philadelphia
within one with a line drive to the left-field corner.
Utley tied the game at three in the fifth when he launched a sinker into the
right-field seats, but Arizona quickly got the run back in the sixth when
Goldschmidt lofted a fly ball that carried over the right-field fence, making
the score 4-3.
Game Notes
Blanco left the game due to injury following Brown's single in the eighth
inning. He was replaced by Miguel Montero...Hernandez left the game due to an
apparent injury in the eighth inning...Lee is winless at home...Philadelphia
has not lost a series against Arizona at home since May 2007...Chris Young
moved into second place in Diamondbacks history in games played with
850...Goldschmidt is second in the National League with 10 home runs against
left-handed pitchers...In their last six games, 21 of Arizona's 27 runs have
come via home runs...The Phillies have won 11 of their last 13 against
Arizona...Philadelphia won consecutive series for the fourth time this
season...The Phillies moved into fourth place for the first time since June
27.
08/05 20:38:46 ET

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