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Howard bails out bullpen, lifts Phils past Nationals

Jul 26, 2007 - 5:55 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies continued their winning ways at home. It just took a little longer than expected.

Ryan Howard crushed a two-run home run in the 14th inning to lead the Phillies to a 7-5 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Philadelphia recorded its fifth consecutive win, tying a season high, despite blowing a two-run lead in the ninth and failing to capitalize on a number of opportunities in extra innings.

Chase Utley walked to start the bottom of the 14th and Howard followed by drilling a 2-2 offering from Chris Booker (0-1) into the second deck in right field. It was the 28th homer of the season for Howard and the second walk-off shot of his career. The reigning National League MVP has 64 RBI in his last 54 games.

"I just went up there with the mindset of trying to hit something in the gap," Howard said. "I happened to get a good pitch and it went out of the ballpark. Somebody had to lose and fortunately, we won."

Howard's blast ended a contest that took 4 hours, 52 minutes to play. Each team used eight pitchers and combined to throw 446 pitches.

"Howard made it well worth waiting," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I don't know what to say. The game had everything but a fight."

Wes Helms drove in two runs and Cole Hamels pitched seven effective innings as Philadelphia built a 4-2 lead after eight.

Antonio Alfonseca came on in the ninth for Philadelphia and got Austin Kearns to foul out to first to open the frame before running into trouble. He allowed doubles to Ryan Church and Tony Batista around a walk to Brian Schneider before being lifted.

The double by Batista plated Church to make it 4-3 and spelled the end for Alfonseca. Mike Zagurski came in with runners on second and third with one out and promptly gave up a double to pinch hitter Jesus Flores that gave the Nationals a 5-4 lead.

It looked like the Phillies were destined to give one away when Nationals closer Chad Cordero got two quick outs in the ninth but the Phillies caught a break.

Jimmy Rollins lined an 0-2 pitch to left-center and left fielder Church and center fielder Ryan Langerhans, a defensive replacement who just entered the game, both went for the ball. It bounced off Church's glove and Rollins was at third when Church's throw got away from shortstop Felipe Lopez. Rollins beat Lopez's throw home to tie the game, 5-5.

"It's not over until the last out is made," Rollins said. "Two strikes, two outs, it doesn't matter. One swing of the bat can change things. The ball didn't leave the yard, but I hit it right between (Church and Langerhans). Then, a poor throw to the shortstop and I was able to score."

Church had a long run for the ball, but appeared to make the catch before Langerhans interfered with him.

"A lot of things went on," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "We couldn't catch a fly ball. We couldn't hit a relay man and it cost us."

"I lost the game," Church said. "That's all I've got to say."

Philadelphia actually got a strong outing from reliever Clay Condrey (4-0), who tossed three scoreless innings.

Hamels scattered six hits and allowed two runs with a walk and six strikeouts.

Washington grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a run-scoring single by Lopez.

Philadelphia answered with three runs in the fourth off starter Matt Chico. Chico issued a bases-loaded walk to Pat Burrell to force in the tying run before Helms followed with a two-run single.

Aaron Rowand's two-out, RBI double in the fifth gave the Phillies a 4-1 edge before Ronnie Belliard led off the sixth with a home run to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Phillies have won four of five home meetings against the Nationals this year.