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 He ended it with a star turn, hitting a three-run homer in the
bottom of the ninth to lift the Phillies to a 6-3 victory over the
Colorado Rockies.
Howard's homer, his ninth of the year and the fifth walkoff shot of
his career, came off reliever Boone Logan. It capped a four-run
rally that was aided by two Colorado errors.
Asked what he might have found in his swing that enabled him to
deliver the decisive blow, Howard said, "I found the ball. That's
about it. With swinging, sometimes you have to tinker with some
things. Sometimes it just finds you."
Jonathan Papelbon (1-1) picked up the victory by pitching a
scoreless inning in relief. LaTroy Hawkins (2-1) took the loss.
"That was a tough one," Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said,
"maybe tougher than some of the others."
The Rockies had taken a 3-2 lead on DJ LaMahieu's solo homer in the
eighth off reliever Jake Diekman.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Philadelphia left fielder
Tony Gwynn Jr. reached on a throwing error by Colorado second
baseman Josh Rutledge. Center fielder Ben Revere followed with a
single.
 Hawkins retired shortstop Jimmy Rollins on an at-bat extended when
Tulowitzki dropped a foul pop. Logan replaced Hawkins and
surrendered an RBI single to second baseman Chase Utley. Howard then
hit a 2-2 fastball into the center-field seats to win it.
Howard said he took his cue from Utley, who pulled a 3-0 pitch foul,
deep down the right-field line and later lined his single on a 3-2
delivery from Logan.
"I was watching Chase's (at-bat)," Howard said. "Just wanted to
follow him up, trying to have a good (at-bat), not make the last out
and get a good pitch to hit -- either that or try to get on base and
let (right fielder) Marlon (Byrd) get a crack at (Logan)."
The Rockies squandered a bases-loaded, no-out threat in the seventh.
Phillies reliever Mike Adams, who came on after Antonio Bastardo
walked three hitters, started a double play when pinch-hitter Carlos
Gonzalez tapped a broken-bat roller back to the mound.
Adams then fanned Tulowitzki, the leading hitter in the major
leagues, to end the threat.
Neither Gonzalez nor Tulowitzki started -- Gonzalez after suffering
a bruised right calf in Tuesday's game and Tulowitzki because
manager Walt Weiss elected to rest him.
The Rockies left 15 men on base and went 0-for-13 with runners in
scoring position. They are 4-for-48 in such situations during their
road trip.
They stranded seven in the first three innings alone.
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"A lot of times when that happens," Weiss said, "it comes back to
haunt you."
Colorado starter Jordan Lyles went five innings and allowed two runs
and five hits. He struck out five and walked four.
Phillies starter Roberto Hernandez worked 5 2/3 innings and allowed
two runs and six hits. He struck out five and walked four.
Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau led off the third with a homer,
his 10th of the year and his fourth in 35 career at-bats against
Hernandez. Catcher Wilin Rosario made it 2-0 when he doubled in a
run later in the inning.
The Phillies answered with a run in their half of the third on an
RBI single by Howard and tied it when right fielder Marlon Byrd
singled home a run in the fifth.
NOTES: Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki is the top overall vote-getter
after the first round of balloting for the National League All-Star
team, it was announced Wednesday. Tulowitzki has 745,823 votes.
Philadelphia 2B Chase Utley is fourth with 509,390. Colorado OF
Charlie Blackmon (549,394) and 3B Nolan Arenado (305,327) also lead
the voting at their respective positions. ... Phillies RHP Miguel A.
Gonzalez, who has yet to pitch in the majors this season because of
shoulder soreness, underwent an MRI on Tuesday after complaining of
a dead arm three starts into his rehab assignment. A team spokesman
said Wednesday that there were "no significant changes" from the MRI
that Gonzalez underwent late in spring training. He will continue
his throwing program Thursday. ... Commissioner Bud Selig, who has
announced he will retire after this season, was on hand for the
game. He said in a pregame news conference that there is no
timetable for naming his successor. Nor would he confirm or deny
that Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro is a candidate, as has
been reported.
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reserved.]
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