Howard’s Eighth Inning Homer Puts Phillies in NL East Lead
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The Phillies came back from a 7-4 sixth inning deficit with 2 runs each in the seventh and eighth innings, the decisive blow being 1st baseman Ryan Howard’s eighth inning 2 run homer with 2 out. Reliever Ryan Madson tossed two clean innings for his 4th win and closer Brad Lidge notched his 37th save in 37 opportunities, as the Phils edged the Braves by an 8-7 score to take over the NL East lead.
The Phillies’ win, combined with the Mets 1-0 loss to the Washington Nationals, put them on top of the NL East division by 1/2 game over the Mets. The 3rd place Marlins defeated Houston to remain 6 games behind in the division. The 4th place Braves, also off on Monday are now 17 1/2 behind. Meanwhile, the Mets and Brewers remained deadlocked in NL Wildcard race.
With lefthander Jamie Moyer having an off-game, he had given up only 5 runs in his previous 18 innings over 3 starts, the offense didn’t quit with players having multi-hit games and Moyer did manage to eat up 5 2/3 innings. Unfortunately, leftfielder Pat Burrell struck out in all 5 of his plate appearances.
AP Sports Writer Charles Odum describes the game for Yahoo sports;
Jamie Moyer gave up six hits and six runs in 5 2-3 innings. He walked four batters, including back-to-back walks to Brent Lillibridge and Greg Norton to load the bases in the Braves’ big sixth inning.
Josh Anderson tied the game with a groundout. Kelly Johnson’s pinch-hit single off Chad Durbin drove in two runs to extend his career-best hitting streak to 14 games. Brian McCann added a run-scoring single off Scott Eyre for a 7-4 lead.
[Jayson] Werth, who hit a two-run homer, and Shane Victorino each had three hits.
Carlos Ruiz hit a homer off Braves rookie James Parr, who gave up 10 hits and four runs in 4 1-3 innings.
Howard drove in Werth with a seventh-inning triple off Will Ohman. Victorino drove in Howard with a single off Jeff Bennett to cut the lead to 7-6.
Julian Tavarez walked Jayson Werth with two outs in the eighth. Braves manager Bobby Cox brought in Mike Gonzalez (0-3), who gave up Howard’s opposite-field homer to left. It was Gonzalez’s second blown save in 13 chances.
Braves catcher Brian McCann defended Gonzalez, saying Howard hit a good fastball.
“When he’s locked in, he’s as good as it gets,” McCann said.
Making a late push for NL MVP despite a .249 batting average, Howard leads the majors in homers and RBIs (136). He was 4-for-5 with three RBIs.
Howard has thrived against the Braves. He is hitting .375 (21-for-56) with six homers and 21 RBIs against Atlanta.
Ryan Madson (4-2) had three strikeouts in two perfect innings.
Lidge walked Chipper Jones to open the ninth, then walked Casey Kotchman and Jeff Francoeur to load the bases with two outs. But the All-Star closer struck out Gregor Blanco, making him perfect in 37 save chances during his first season with Philadelphia.
The Phillies improved to 71-0 when leading after eight innings. They are 7-0 at Turner Field this year and 11-2 overall against the Braves.
Jimmy Rollins’ third-inning double set up a three-run third inning. Chase Utley followed with another double to left-center, driving in Rollins. Werth’s two-run homer to left gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead.
The Braves tied it in the third. With one out, Moyer hit Anderson with a pitch and walked Martin Prado. Jones’ single loaded the bases. McCann drove in Anderson with a single. With two outs, Casey Kotchman hit a two-run single. Jones scored the tying run on a slide that beat Shane Victorino’s throw from center.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Tuesday’s games, click here.
On Wednesday, it now appears that young lefthander J.A. Happ will start in Jair Jurrjens for the Braves.
As things stand now, ace lefthander Cole Hamels is slated for a lefties duel with 36 year old Mike Hampton in Thursday’s series final as the Phils try to build on their NL East division lead before their series with the hot Marlins.
For all of the scores, boxscores and recaps on Wednesday’s games, click here.
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