Saturday, April 25, 2009
Sports NewsMayfield's Mutterings: Springing into Mutterings

Phillies score 7 in 9th to rally past Marlins 7-3

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[April 25, 2009]  MIAMI (AP) -- Shane Victorino hit his first career grand slam to highlight a seven-run rally in the ninth inning against closer Matt Lindstrom, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 7-3 on Friday night.

The Marlins took a three-hitter into the ninth and were two outs from a 3-0 victory when pinch hitter Matt Stairs singled home the Phillies' first run. Lindstrom walked in a run before Victorino hit his second homer of the year on a 2-1 pitch.

Five pitches later, Chase Utley hit his fifth homer.

The rally cost Florida's Josh Johnson a victory. He allowed three hits in seven innings, struck out eight and lowered his ERA to 2.20.

The Marlins still own the best record in the NL at 11-5, but they have lost four games in a row and fell to 8-1 when they score first.

Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer with two out in the first off Brett Myers for Florida's only runs. The Phillies have given up at least one homer in all 15 games, extending a major league record to start the season.

Clay Condrey (3-0) pitches two hitless innings, and Ryan Madson struck out the side in the ninth.

The game drew 29,032 spectators, including 1,540 dogs on Bark in the Park Night, and it was a ruff one for Lindstrom. The Phillies had totaled five hits and one run over a 17-inning stretch when they snapped the slump against him in the ninth.

Jayson Werth doubled with one out, and after a walk, Stairs singled. Lou Marson walked to load the bases, and after a strikeout, Jimmy Rollins walked to force in a run.

Victorino then pulled a pitch into the right field stands, and Lindstrom (1-1) was showered with boos. He gave up four hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning, blowing a save for the second time in five chances, and his ERA rose from 1.50 to 9.45.

Uggla hit his third homer with two out in the first to end an 0-for-21 slump, the longest hitless streak of his career. The hit followed singles by John Baker and Ross Gload.

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Uggla has four homers in 33 at-bats against Myers. The Phillies' right-hander found himself in frequent trouble the rest of the way but allowed no more runs before departing after throwing 119 pitches in six innings.

Poor baserunning by Hanley Ramirez and a questionable call on an inning-ending forceout cost the Marlins a run or more in the fifth. Ramirez was slow out of the box on a potential leadoff triple and settled for a double, then was thrown out trying to steal third. The Marlins went on to load the bases with two out before second base umpire Jerry Lane called Cody Ross out on a forceout, although TV replays showed the runner beat the throw.

Notes:@ Marlins 1B Jorge Cantu again sat out with a bruised left wrist but said he hopes to return Saturday. He received a cortisone shot Wednesday. ... The Marlins claimed LHP Dave Davidson off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates and optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans. ... The Marlins won 10 of 18 games against the Phillies last year.

[Associated Press; By STEVEN WINE]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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