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Werth powers Phillies past Marlins

Sep 9, 2008 - 4:11 AM By Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Jayson Werth gave the Philadelphia Phillies some much-needed insurance.

Werth hit a two-out, three-run home run to help the Phillies secure an 8-6 victory over the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

Jimmy Rollins collected three hits and three stolen bases as the Phillies (79-65) moved within 1 1/2 games of the idle New York Mets (80-63) for first place in the National League East.

"I thought about calling a meeting (before the game)," Rollins said. "But the way the guys were going after it (with) their attitude, there wasn't really a need for it. We all knew what was at stake. We all know how important these games are."

Philadelphia has 18 games remaining, while New York has 19.

"I think we just need to stay tight, continue to win games," Werth said. "It's gonna come down to the last week. We just need to continue to take care of ourselves. Win the games we're supposed to win."

Philadelphia was clinging to a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning and had runners on first and third with two outs. Florida brought in Joe Nelson to face Werth and the slugger greeted the righthander by blasting his first pitch over the center field fence for his 22nd homer of the season.

"Every night, it's gonna be somebody different," Werth said. "Had a couple of chances to hit with guys on base tonight. Fortunately, I came through on one of them, so it's good."

Werth's homer traveled an estimated 425 feet.

"We were one run down with one of the best in our bullpen," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "(Nelson) just got a ball up over the plate to Werth and he hit it. That wasn't one of those Citizens Bank (Park) specials. That was deserved. That's straight-away center and the big part of the ballpark."

Werth, who began the season platooning in right field with Geoff Jenkins, has been getting more playing time against righthanded pitchers with his increased offensive production.

"It's good to get back in an everyday role," Werth said. "If you look over the course of my career, my numbers against righties aren't bad, but sometimes, it's hard to shake a label."

The runs would prove to be valuable as Cody Ross hit a pinch hit, two-run home run in the eighth off J.C. Romero to cut the deficit in half.

Brad Lidge pitched out of first and third, one-out jam in the ninth by striking out Wes Helms and Jorge Cantu to notch his 35th save in as many opportunities and preserve the win for the Phillies, who began a seven-game homestand.

"Every game right now is huge," Lidge said. "We did what we needed to do in New York, took the series. Now, we need to continue to play our best at home and have a great homestand. Get ourselves back in the mix of things."

Joe Blanton (2-0) finally recorded a victory after six straight no-decisions, but labored throughout his 97-pitch, five-inning outing. The burly righthander allowed four runs on five hits and three walks.

"I guess it was kind of a Dr. Jeckyll-Mr. Hyde night," said Blanton, who was acquired from Oakland in mid-July. "The first inning, I felt really good, probably the best I felt since I came over here. Then, I just tried to do too much and started overthrowing a little bit and kind of lost it."

Philadelphia jumped on Anibal Sanchez (2-4) for two runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Chase Utley and a run-scoring double by Ryan Howard. However, Blanton quickly let the Marlins tie the game in the second.

Blanton walked the first two batters ahead of a single by Josh Willingham to load the bases. John Baker brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly before Alfredo Amezaga tied it with an RBI groundout.

Just as quickly, the Phillies regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame. With runners on second and third and none out, Blanton helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly. Philadelphia then made it, 5-2, on RBI singles by Rollins and Howard.

But Blanton was again victimized by a leadoff walk in the third when he issued a free pass to Hanley Ramirez. Two outs later, Mike Jacobs drove a 2-1 pitch into the right field seats for a two-run homer that pulled Florida within 5-4.

"We were able to get out early, they came back," Howard said. "We got some more runs, they came back. Got more runs, they came back. It's September. Every game from here on out, you can pretty much expect a battle, especially when we're playing the Marlins."

Sanchez lasted just 1 2/3 innings and surrendered five runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

"(Sanchez) just couldn't get on track," Gonzalez said. "His fastball was up. His command wasn't very good. His curveball was just kind of loopy. It wasn't sharp."