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Phils, Astros get back to work after marathon

Aug 6, 2014 - 2:51 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Philadelphia Phillies have had enough time to rest from their latest victory and target a series win Wednesday night in the middle test of a three-game series versus the Houston Astros.

The Phillies needed extra innings to dispose of the Astros in Tuesday's series opener, as Ryan Howard singled home Grady Sizemore in the bottom of the 15th inning for a 2-1 win. Howard also homered in the second inning, while Sizemore, Ben Revere and Cody Asche had two hits apiece.

"It's been a long year," said Howard. "A few times teams have intentionally walked Chase (Utley) to get to me and I just got tired of it. I really wanted to come through in this late at-bat."

Hector Neris made his major league debut, pitching a perfect 15th inning for the win. Kyle Kendrick was sharp through the first seven innings and held the 'Stros to one run with three strikeouts and a walk.

Neris was the seventh reliever used for the Phillies, who were shut out in their previous two games and won for the seventh time in 12 tries. The Phillies had lost their past eight games against the American League and have scored just two runs in their last 36 innings.

David Buchanan gets the call for the Phillies Wednesday and is 5-5 with a 4.40 ERA in 10 starts this season. The rookie is 4-2 in his last six decisions and tossed seven innings of one-run ball in a 9-1 beating of Milwaukee on July 10.

Buchanan, a right-hander, is 3-2 in five starts at Citizens Bank Park and will face Houston for the first time.

The Astros were aiming for a fourth straight win last night, but faltered down the stretch. Starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel matched Kendrick with seven innings of one-run ball and the bearded lefty struck out four.

Jake Buchanan surrendered Howard's game-winning hit in the 15th, while Jonathan Singleton knocked in Houston's only run with an RBI single in the seventh inning.

"I felt like our guys battled. Buchanan did a great job inning after inning giving us a chance to score some runs, but they were able to get to us in the 15th," Astros manager Bo Porter said.

Jose Altuve has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games and went 1-for-6.

Taking the mound for Porter's club Wednesday will be Brad Peacock. Peacock is 3-7 with a 4.93 ERA in 19 games (15 starts) and has lost two straight and three of four trips to the mound.

In a 9-7 loss at Oakland on July 23, Peacock lasted only 3 2/3 innings and was touched for seven runs and seven hits with five walks. The right-hander is 1-4 on the road, but won his only start against the Phillies on Sept. 22, 2011 in a 6-1 victory in south Philly as a member of Washington. Peacock hurled 5 2/3 shutout innings and limited the Phillies to one hit.

This series marks the first time the Phillies and Astros have faced each other since splitting six meetings during the 2012 season, the Astros' final year as a member of the National League.