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Roberts' 2-run homer leads O's over Phillies 6-5

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:53 AM By ROB MAADDI AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA(AP) -- Whether it's Ryan Madson or Brad Lidge closing, ninth-inning leads are no longer automatic wins for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Brian Roberts hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth off Madson, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the slumping Phillies 6-5 Saturday night.

The defending World Series champions were 79-0 in the regular season last year when leading after eight innings. They're just 28-6 in those situations this year.

"That's the most deflating part, not getting it done for the those guys," said Madson, who has two blown saves and two losses this week in place of the injured Lidge.

Madson (2-3) has excelled in a setup role, but he's struggled as a closer. Lidge, who was 48-for-48 in save chances last season, including the postseason, also had trouble finishing games before going on the disabled list with a knee injury. He was 13-for-19 in save chances.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Howard gave the Phillies a 5-3 lead with a three-run homer in the seventh, hours after being hospitalized for flu symptoms. But Baltimore rallied in the ninth for its fourth straight win.

"We're starting to get a feel that we're never out of it," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.

The NL-East leading Phillies have lost a season-high five games and fell to 13-21 at home. They're a major league-best 23-9 on the road. The Phillies also had a June swoon during interleague play last year, going 3-9.

"We're not going good, but we can turn it around," manager Charlie Manuel said. "We've been there before."

Gregg Zaun hit a solo homer off Madson with one out in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar singled with two outs and Roberts hit a 1-2 pitch into the seats in right.

"I was in a hole and I just wanted to get a ball in play," Roberts said.

Mark Hendrickson (2-4) pitched a scoreless eighth and George Sherrill finished for his 14th save in 16 chances.

Howard went to the hospital at 3:30 a.m. Saturday after his temperature reached 103.9 degrees. He was released by 11 a.m. Before the game, Manuel said Howard would be unavailable.

But with the Phillies trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Howard came up with two runners on and two outs. He drove reliever Danys Baez's 1-1 pitch into Philadelphia's bullpen in center. It was his fifth career homer as pinch-hitter, and Howard also extended his consecutive games streak to 343, longest in the majors.

Manuel said he was unsure whether Howard would start Sunday.

The Phillies had just two hits off Orioles starter Brad Bergesen and trailed 3-0 going into the seventh. Shane Victorino started the rally with a double and Chase Utley sliced an RBI double to left. After Matt Stairs lined a single to right, Jayson Werth popped out, but Greg Dobbs ripped an RBI single over first baseman Aubrey Huff's head to cut it to 3-2.

Baez came in and retired Pedro Feliz on a deep fly to center before Howard crushed his 20th homer. A sellout crowd gave him a curtain call and he acknowledged their cheers.

Bergesen, who was outstanding in his last four starts, allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings.

Phillies starter J.A. Happ gave up two runs and 10 hits in six innings, spending most of the night pitching out of trouble. The lefty rebounded from a pair of so-so starts in which he allowed nine runs in 11 innings.

The Orioles left a season-high 14 men on base, squandering a couple opportunities with a runner on third and less than two outs.

Huff's RBI double in the fifth gave Baltimore a 1-0 lead, and the Orioles tacked on a run in the sixth after Robert Andino started the inning with a double to right. Andino moved to third on Bergesen's sacrifice and scored on Roberts' sacrifice fly to center.

Durbin walked Roberts with the bases loaded to force in a run in the seventh.

Notes: Lidge threw a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance with Double-A Reading. He allowed one hit and struck out two. Lidge is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday. ... Baltimore is 10-20 on the road. ... The Phillies have lost 12 of 13 at home in interleague play.