Phils Blow Late Lead, Fall To Giants 6-5
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A routine popup turned into another disappointing loss for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Ryan Howard and Chase Utley combined for five hits and four RBIs at the plate. But a ball that landed between them on the infield grass played a key role in San Francisco's rally for a 6-5 victory Saturday.
Howard drove in three runs for Philadelphia, which has lost six of eight. Ben Revere matched his career high with four hits.
Philadelphia carried a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth. Buster Posey led off with a base hit, but Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick then got Pablo Sandoval to pop it up.
"I felt Chase behind me and I heard him say something," Howard said. "All I heard was 'Got it.' Talking to him later, he was saying 'You got it.' It was a small communication mistake and it started a rally."
Utley picked up the ball and tried to flip it to second for a force, but the second baseman's throw took Jimmy Rollins off the base.
"It seemed to be a momentum swing," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "But leading up to that, we left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth. We had a solid game going into the sixth."
Michael Morse followed with a RBI double and pinch-hitter Adam Duvall walked to load the bases. Shallow fly balls by Joe Panik and Gregor Blanco fell just in front of outfielders and suddenly the game was tied.
Gregor Blanco added a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth against Philadelphia's Jake Diekman. Antonio Bastardo (5-7) got the loss.
Howard was 2 for 3 against Giants starter Tim Hudson, improving his career mark against the right-hander to .343 (24 for 70) with 20 RBIs.
"He's always been pretty tough, especially against me," Hudson said. "He came out on top again today."
Utley has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games against the Giants, batting .343 (23 for 67) with 12 RBIs over that span.
Kendrick pitched five innings for the Phillies, yielding four runs and eight hits.
Five relievers combined for five scoreless innings after Hudson departed, allowing San Francisco to rally in the sixth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
RHP Mike Adams (right labrum fraying) is on a long-toss throwing program. He last pitched in a game on June 6.
WHAT'S NEXT
Phillies: RHP David Buchanan (6-3, 4.40 ERA) makes his third start since returning to the majors for his second stint. After allowing seven home runs in his first five starts, Buchanan has allowed two over his last seven. The Phillies have won eight of their last 13 games at AT&T Park.
Giants: RHP Tim Lincecum (9-8, 4.51 ERA) gets the ball in Sunday's series finale. He is 5-3 in 13 career appearances against the Phillies.
THE KENDRICK FILE
Kendrick can't seem to catch a break when he starts during the day. He left Saturday's game with a lead but ended up with a no-decision and is 1-10 over his last 16 daytime starts.
"He's a competitor," Utley said. "I don't blame him for being frustrated for coming out of the game."
He gave up a first-inning drive by Hunter Pence for the eighth homer he's allowed in the opening frame. He's allowed 25 first-inning runs in his 25 starts.
Kendrick declined comment.
