|
Aaron Rowand prevented the tying and go-ahead runs from scoring with a tumbling catch on the warning track that ended the eighth inning, and the Phillies narrowly avoided a monumental collapse when they held on for a 13-11 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.
Ryan Howard hit a grand slam and a solo homer for the Phillies, who led 11-0 in the sixth inning and were clinging to a 12-11 lead when Rowand hauled in Ryan Ludwick's drive with two on in the eighth. Rowand then homered in the ninth, and Francisco Rosario struck out Russell Branyan with two on and two out to earn his first career save.
Philadelphia, which swept New York over the weekend, pulled within 2 1/2 games of the NL East-leading Mets with its fifth straight win and moved a season-best 12 games above .500. The Phillies entered the night 1 1/2 games behind San Diego in the wild card race.
Rowand and Jimmy Rollins also homered in the fourth, and Howard's fifth career grand slam off reliever Anthony Reyes in the sixth made it 11-0. But the Cardinals responded with three of their own in the sixth, six more in the seventh and two runs in the eighth.
[Associated Press;
by R.B. Fallstrom]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed. |
