Phils Win a Wild One to Close Out Road Trip
Down 7-3 entering the 7th inning, the Phils rallied to score 9 runs in the inning, and went on to top the Rockies 12-11. Chase Utley leading the way with a grandslam, and rbi single(6 rbi). Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth with homeruns. Starting pitcher Joe Blanton was yanked after 4 1/3 innings, allowing 6 runs(4 earned), on 10 hits.
With the Braves losing to the Mets 4-2, the Phils cut Atlanta's division lead to 2 games. The Giants were idle Thursday night, so the Phils now lead the Wildcard race by 2 games over San Fran.
Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Chase Utley's grand slam to cap a nine-run seventh inning proved to be just enough to hold off the pesky Rockies, as Philadelphia hung on for a wild 12-11 win versus Colorado in a makeup game at Coors Field.
The Phillies trailed by four runs heading into the top of the seventh where they exploded for a nine-spot on the Rockies' bullpen. Utley started the barrage with a run-scoring single, Ryan Howard blasted a two-run homer and Jayson Werth made it back-to-back with a solo shot.
Ben Francisco added a pinch-hit RBI single and Utley drove a 3-1 fastball from Matt Reynolds deep down the right-field line and inside the pole for a sudden 12-7 lead. Utley drove in half of Philadelphia's 12 runs.
The surge made a winner out of Antonio Bastardo (1-0), who worked through a rough inning of relief in which he gave up a run on four hits. The Phils' bullpen went on to allow four more runs as Troy Tulowitzki's RBI groundout made it a one-run game in the ninth.
Brad Lidge was able to recover after walking Todd Helton with one out by fanning Clint Barmes and getting Ryan Spilborghs to ground into a force play at third for his 19th save.
The Phillies' sixth win in seven games, coupled with the Braves' loss to the Mets Thursday, moved the spread between the clubs to two games for top billing in the NL East.
The game was a makeup date for what was supposed to be the second half of a doubleheader on May 12 that was rained out. It extended the Phils' road stay where they've won 12 of their last 14 and included a swing up the west coast through San Diego and Los Angeles.
Carlos Gonzalez continued his hot hitting with his 31st home run amid a 3- for-5 night. Chris Iannetta and Dexter Fowler slugged second-inning home runs and knocked in three runs apiece for Colorado, which has lost three straight after winning seven of eight.
A combination of Joe Beimel, Reynolds and Manny Delcarmen (0-1) making his Rockies debut were responsible for the seventh-inning meltdown. But the Phils' pen wasn't much better.
In the bottom of the frame, Chad Durbin surrendered three runs on a Jonathan Herrera RBI single and a two-run base knock by Fowler. J.C. Romero issued a one-out walk in the eighth and Jose Contreras came on to load the bases with two away before escaping on Eric Young's fielder's choice groundout.
Lidge had a rough start to the ninth when Howard botched a grounder from Fowler. Gonzalez then singled through the right side to push Fowler to third, but the Rox could only manage the one run on Tulowitzki's grounder.
Colorado was off to a fast start with a three-run blast from Iannetta and Fowler's solo pop in the second off Phillies starter Joe Blanton.
Raul Ibanez brought in Werth with a two-out base hit in the fourth to get one back off Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacin. Utley lifted a sacrifice fly an inning later for a 4-2 affair.
The Rockies were back at it in their half of the fifth, though, as Gonzalez led off with a home run and Seth Smith hit an RBI single to signal Blanton's end.
Philadelphia looked primed for a bunch of runs in the sixth after loading the bases with one out. Pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney was hit on the right hand with a pitch to force in one, but Jimmy Rollins grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Colorado then filled the bags with one away in its turn but managed only Tulowitzki's infield single to score a run as Helton struck out and Melvin Mora flied out.
Game Notes
Blanton allowed 10 hits and six runs -- four earned -- in 4 1/3 innings, while Chacin was charged with five hits and three runs (one earned) over 5 1/3 frames...Gonzalez has six homers and 14 RBI over a 10-game hitting streak and is the first in the majors this season to have an extra-base hit in 10 consecutive games...The Phillies have won 15 times in the last 19 regular- season meetings with Colorado...Fowler, Tulowitzki and Mora each had three hits for the Rox, who had 20 overall...Philadelphia banged out 15 hits and got three from Werth, who also scored three runs...Howard hit his 25th home run of the season, the fifth straight season he's reached the mark. Utley's longball was his 12th of 2010 while Werth hit his 19th.
