Comeback! Phils Score Four In Ninth To Win
In about 15 minutes, the Phillies went from cold to hot, as they tagged Astros’ closer Jose Valverde for four runs in a huge comeback win, 4-3.
Chris Snelling led off the ninth with his first home run, a drive into the third row of the right field stands. Chase Utley promptly got hit by a pitch (looks like he probably laid into it — anything to win), but Ryan Howard quieted the crowd for a moment with a strikeout. Then, just as he’s been doing for the past nine months, Pat Burrell came up big, taking a Valverde pitch to the opposite field for his fifth homer of the year, the game-tying blow.
Geoff Jenkins followed with a battling at bat that led to a strikeout, but a passed ball put the slugger on base. Pedro Feliz followed with a line drive down the left field line; Jenkins was going hard all the way, and he won the play at the plate for the win (was he safe?).
The Phils had no business winning this one, not after looking foolish against starter Shawn Chacon, who painted and hit his spots all night. Adam Eaton kept the Phils in the game with a 6 IP, 3 ER performance, gutting it out against a tough Astros lineup. The game was boring up until the very end — then the Phils broke out the sticks. That, along with the Flyers big home win in game three of the NHL playoffs, makes for an awesome night in South Philadelphia.
Associated Press photo
