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Phillies use six-run seventh to rally past Cubs

May 13, 2007 - 6:22 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies finished the seventh inning far better than they started it.

Greg Dobbs' two-run triple and two-run homer by Carlos Ruiz highlighted the Phillies' 11-7 come-from-behind victory against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

After the Cubs took a 7-5 lead with six runs in the top of the seventh inning, which included a 64-minute rain delay, the Phillies rallied for six runs of their own in the bottom of frame, scoring all after two outs.

"How about that for a ballgame," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who sat stunned in his office after the game. "Two outs, nobody on and they get six runs. That's tough to do. We battled back and we took the lead. Got two quick outs. Before you know it, (Philadelphia) had six runs in.

"After you put a six-spot, especially on an away game, you get the momentum and before you know it, you don't even get jabbed at, you get hit with a haymaker. I don't have an explanation. I really don't. I wish I did."

Dobbs agreed with Piniella's assessment.

"They threw the first haymaker and landed," Dobbs said. "Like a good fighter, you've got to get back up. You've got to shake yourself and get the cobwebs out and go back at it because you know you're gonna have a shot to answer back. Today was an example of that."

Aaron Rowand began the rally with a single off reliever Will Ohman, who then allowed an RBI double to Chase Utley. Bob Howry (0-3) replaced Ohman and allowed a walk to Pat Burrell.

Dobbs followed with a triple down the right field line to put the Phillies ahead, 8-7, and the lead grew on Abraham Nunez's RBI single. Dobbs finished 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs while Nunez drove in three runs in the win.

"You try and do what you can," Dobbs said. "For me, I'm not one of those guys that's gonna try and do more than what I can do. I'm no Ryan Howard. I'm no Chase Utley. I'm no Jimmy Rollins. I'm Greg Dobbs and I'm gonna give you everything I've got."

Dobbs' performance was even more significant when it was learned after the game that the Phillies placed Howard on the 15-day disabled list with a left quadriceps strain.

"Having a guy like him out of your lineup for any extended amount of time is tough because he's such an impact player," Dobbs said. "It's extremely unfortunate that we're gonna miss him for a week or two. They're huge shoes to fill, but that's the beauty about a baseball team."

Ruiz completed a 3-for-3 game when he homered off Howry and opened up a four-run lead that the Phillies would not relinquish this time.

Dobbs, Nunez and Ruiz - the team's six, seven and eight hitters - finished the game 9-for-11 with eight RBI and six runs for the Phillies, who have won their last three games.

Utley finished with three hits for the Phillies who have won 14 of 23 games since starting the season 3-10.

The game was pitching duel early on, but things changed quickly with the Phillies leading, 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth.

Chicago starter Angel Guzman allowed Utley's seventh home run of the season to open the frame. With one out, Dobbs singled, prompting Cubs manger Lou Piniella to replace Guzman with Scott Eyre.

Guzman allowed four runs, nine hits and one walk while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings.

Eyre's first pitch was hit for an RBI triple by Nunez, who was ruled safe at third on a questionable call by umpire Larry Poncino.

"It takes 25 guys pulling (together)," Nunez said. "It was our time today. We were able to come through. There was no panic (during the rain delay). We stayed in the game and capitalized."

A sacrifice by Ruiz plated Nunez to give the Phillies a 5-1 lead, that they gave away in Chicago's next at-bat.

Phillies starter Freddy Garcia began the inning by walking Mark DeRosa, who moved to second on a wild pitch. Cesar Izturis followed with a double to right-center that right fielder Shane Victorino nearly caught, which slowed DeRosa and forced him to stop at third base.

After Matt Murton was announced as a pinch hitter, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel replaced Garcia with righthander Geoff Geary. After getting ahead of Geary 2-0, Murton belted his first homer of the season over the wall in left field.

Garcia allowed three runs, eight hits and two walks while striking out five in six-plus innings.

"One of (Garcia's) biggest problems was that he kind of ran out of gas," Manuel said. "He was pretty much on an empty tank."

Chicago was not done as Alfonso Soriano, who extended his career-high hitting streak to 20 games, collected his second base hit of the game. The speedy outfielder moved to third on a single by Derrek Lee and crossed home plate with the tying run when Aramis Ramirez singled.

The game was delayed by rain at that point.

The game's winning pitcher, Antonio Alfonseca (2-1) came in to pitch when play resumed and after Michael Barrett lined out for the second out, the Cubs took the lead for the first time in the game.

Jacque Jones doubled to left-center, scoring Lee and Ramirez to put the Cubs ahead, 7-5. The lead was nearly extended when DeRosa followed with a single, but Jones was thrown out at home by Victorino in right.

"I look at it as part of my game," said Victorino, who also threw out Soriano at the plate earlier. "I like doing stuff like and playing good defense."

Lee finished with four hits for the Cubs, who have lost three straight games.

"We'll just go get them tomorrow," Piniella said. "What else can I say? There's nothing else you can do."