Giants Rally Over Phillies
For a pitcher who went from a victory to a no-decision, Orel Hershiser was still a very happy man.
"The Giants-Phillies: City pages:
Mets were about to win, and the Cubs won, so we really needed this one," said Hershiser after the Giants rallied with a four-run eighth inning for a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night. Related Links
The Giants remained two games behind NL wild card co-leaders New York and Chicago.
"It's not September, but it's getting close enough, so let's go," Hershiser said. "Last week, nobody was really stepping up. Today, all three of us won. For one day, the race is on. Let's see who wants to join in again tomorrow."
The Giants allowed an unearned run in the eighth after Hershiser was all set up to win for only the second time in nine starts. But they rallied for four runs in their half of the eighth to put it away, sparked by first baseman Rico Brogna's throwing error.
Jeff Kent, who also hit his 25th homer, added an RBI single in the eighth as San Francisco earned a split of the four-game series.
Ellis Burks hit a sacrifice fly and Joe Carter added an RBI double to make it 6-2.
After the Phillies tied it 2-2 with an unearned run in the top of the eighth, Marvin Benard walked against Wayne Gomes (9-5) to lead off the Giants' half and went to secod on a passed ball. Bill Mueller hit a grounder to Brogna, who threw wildly trying to get Bernard at third.
"I think I had more time than I realized," said Brogna, whose throw skipped in the dirt and down the line. "It was the right play, just a bad throw."
Jose Mesa (5-2) got four outs for the win.
"A crooked number that late in the game like that really helps," Giants manager Dusty Baker said.
Hershiser allowed just four hits and one run over seven innings, but got a no-decision when the Phillies rallied for a run in the eighth against relievers Julian Tavarez and Rich Rodriguez.
Wendell Magee reached safely on an infield single and went to second when shortstop Rich Aurilia overthrew first. Scott Rolen's single sent him to third, and Rodriguez relieved Tavarez.
Brogna lined an RBI single to center to tie it 2-2.
Hershiser is just 1-2 with six no-decisions in his last nine starts. He walked one and struck out a season-high eight, his most in a game since striking out eight Sept. 14, 1995 against Boston while pitching for Cleveland.
The Giants managed just one run through six innings against Mark Portugal, who left for a pinch-hitter after six innings when he suffered a mild separation of his left shoulder while batting. He gave up Kent's 25th homer in the fourth.
"It usually happens when I swing at a bad pitch," Portugal said. "I just have to deal with it for a few days."
With Gomes pitching the seventh, Burks led off with a double down the left-field line and advanced on Carter's fly out to deep center.
Against a drawn-in infield, Brent Mayne hit a hard grounder to shortstop Alex Arias as Burks broke for the plate. Arias' throw sailed wide of catcher Bobby Estalella, who swiped and missed at Burks crossing the plate to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.
The Phillies went up 1-0 in the fourth when Brogna singled, went to third on Bobby Abreu's double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mark Lewis.
Portugal allowed just one run and four hits over six innings, with one walk and four strikeouts.