Sports

NL: Howard revitalizes Phils

Associated Press
Published September 22, 2005

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ATLANTA - When it comes to grand slams, Ryan Howard has a good sense of timing.

The slugging rookie hit his second career slam in the 10th inning Wednesday night to give Philadelphia a 10-6 victory over the Braves, boosting the Phillies' faltering playoff hopes.

Howard, who came up from the minors to replace the injured Jim Thome, hit his first grand slam against the Dodgers on Aug. 10, a ninth-inning shot that broke a tie at 5.

This one was even bigger, keeping the Phillies from a devastating loss after they blew two three-run leads.

"Every game is tight. Every game is a must-win," Howard said. "You've got to go out there and handle your business. Hopefully, you're there at the end."

Jimmy Rollins drove in two as the Phillies pulled within five of the Braves in the East.

Both teams have 10 games left, leaving Atlanta's magic number for clinching a 14th straight division title at six.

The Phillies' best hope for reaching the playoffs is the wild card. They remained two games behind Houston.

Adam LaRoche hit a three-run homer and had four RBIs for the Braves. Johnny Estrada added a two-run homer.

Philadelphia loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th off Kyle Davies. Shane Victorino hit into a forceout at the plate, and the Braves brought in left-hander John Foster to face Howard.

It made sense: Howard was hitting .120 (6-of-50) with one RBI off left-handers. Manager Charlie Manuel called his hitter back to the dugout but had no intention of sending up someone else.

"I told him to relax and make sure he stayed on the ball," Manuel said.

Foster, who had not pitched in eight days because of a sore elbow, fell behind 2-and-0, then gave up Howard's 19th homer, an opposite-field shot into the leftfield stands.

The Braves tied it at 5 in the seventh. With two outs and two runners on, Ryan Madson threw a chest-high fastball that LaRoche hit 393 feet to rightfield.

ASTROS 12, PIRATES 8: Lance Berkman hit his 20th homer and drove in five as visiting Houston built an 8-0 lead, then held off Pittsburgh.

The Astros won for the seventh time in eight games.

Berkman hit a three-run homer in a four-run first and Mike Lamb hit a three-run homer in a four-run second as the Astros moved 14 games over .500 (83-69) for the first time this season.

GIANTS 5, NATIONALS 1: Barry Bonds homered for the fourth straight game to raise his career total to 707, and starter Brad Hennessey also homered while winning for the first time in 10 outings for visiting San Francisco.

The Giants have won five straight, a surge that has coincided with last week's return of Bonds, who missed most of 2005 after three knee operations. The team is 6-1 in his starts, and Bonds is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with four homers and six RBIs.

PADRES 5, ROCKIES 2: Jake Peavy pitched into the eighth and Dave Roberts drove in two with two triples as visiting San Diego maintained its five-game lead in the West.

METS 5, MARLINS 4: Florida's slender wild-card hopes were jolted when host New York scored in the ninth on Miguel Cairo's single.

D'BACKS 3, DODGERS 2: Troy Glaus hit a two-run homer and Chad Tracy added a run-scoring triple to back Brandon Webb for host Arizona.

CARDINALS 5, REDS 1: Jason Marquis pitched seven solid innings, and homers by David Eckstein and So Taguchi powered visiting St. Louis to its 96th victory.

BREWERS 7, CUBS 6: Pinch-hitter Jeff Cirillo singled home the winner in the ninth for host Milwaukee.

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 01:04:14]