 Raul Ibanez hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning,
Contreras pitched out of a jam in the ninth and the Philadelphia
Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Thursday.Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer and Chase Utley also went deep
for the NL East-leading Phillies, who snapped a two-game losing
streak in which they scored a total of two runs.
Kosuke Fukudome
hit a tying solo shot in the eighth, and Derrek Lee also connected
for Chicago, which had won four in a row.
Danys Baez (2-1) retired all three batters he faced to earn the
win, before Contreras worked out of trouble in the ninth for his
second save in two tries. The 38-year-old Contreras, a starter most
of his career, is filling in as the closer with Brad Lidge and Ryan
Madson on the disabled list.
"At the beginning, I thought it was only one inning. Now I know
how tough it is," Contreras said through his translator, Baez.
Alfonso Soriano started the ninth by getting hit on the 11th
pitch he saw from Contreras. Soriano advanced to third on Mike
Fontenot's single to center, but Contreras struck out Starlin Castro
and pinch-hitter Aramis Ramirez. Fontenot stole second as Ramirez
went down swinging on a pitch down and way outside, but Geovany Soto
fouled out to first baseman Ryan Howard to end it.
"He's got good stuff, he's not afraid to pitch, and he has
everything you need to be a good closer," Baez said of his good
friend.
Cubs left-hander John Grabow (0-3) entered with one out in the
eighth and walked Utley. He retired Howard before walking Rollins,
and Ibanez lined a single to right that allowed Utley to slide in
ahead of Fukudome's off-target throw.
Ibanez stood at first base, listening to the familiar chants of
"Ra-uuuuuuul!" Ibanez became an instant fan favorite in his first
season in Philadelphia last year. The All-Star left fielder has
struggled this season, batting just .246 with three homers and 19
RBIs.
"That was a huge hit," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
"Raul's been a slow starter. He told me, ‘Charlie, I can work my way
out of it.' I believe him. He's coming around."
Phillies starter Joe Blanton allowed three runs and five hits. He
retired the first 11 batters and didn't allow a hit until Soriano
doubled down the left-field line leading off the fifth.
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Cubs starter Ryan Dempster gave up four runs and five hits in six
innings. His biggest mistake was a 3-0 pitch that Rollins crushed
into the seats in right, giving the Phillies a 4-1 lead in the
sixth. Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP, returned from the disabled list
Monday after missing 29 games with a calf injury.
"He's a guy who will swing 3-0," Dempster said. "That's not where
you'd like to throw it. I wasn't challenging him, not trying to
groove a pitch. I should have thrown it in the dirt. You've got to
make a better pitch."
Lee led off the seventh with a solo shot to left. The Cubs then
loaded the bases on a walk and singles by Fontenot and Castro.
Pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin's sacrifice fly cut it to 4-3, but Blanton
escaped further damage by retiring pinch-hitter Xavier Nady on a
pop-up.
Fukudome's drive off reliever Antonio Bastardo leading off the
eighth tied it at 4.
Utley put the Phillies ahead 1-0 when he ripped a liner the
right-field seats in the first. Seven of Utley's 10 homers have been
solo shots.
One pitch before Soriano doubled in the fifth, he hit a foul pop
that first baseman Howard lost in the sun. Castro's one-out single
to right scored Soriano to tie it at 1.
NOTES: Rollins batted fifth behind Howard, the third different
spot he's hit since returning from the DL on Monday. Rollins, the
team's usual leadoff hitter, batted third twice and sixth once. ...
Philadelphia starters are 12-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 18 games this
month. ... After making errors in seven straight games, the Cubs
have just one in the last seven games. ... A crowd of 45,325 was the
62nd straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park.
[Associated Press;
By ROB MAADDI]
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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