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Grand slams by Howard, Ibanez rally Phils

Apr 28, 2009 - 4:27 AM PHILADELPHIA(AP) -- The moment the ball left his bat, Raul Ibanez knew it had the distance. So did Joel Hanrahan.

Ibanez's eighth-inning drive off Hanrahan stayed fair down the right-field line for a go-ahead grand slam that lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a wild 13-11 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.

Ryan Howard also hit a grand slam, in the fifth, to help Philadelphia rally for its fourth straight victory.

"This club never gives in," Ibanez said. "I feel blessed to be a part of it."

With star closer Brad Lidge nursing a sore knee, Ryan Madson got three outs for his first save this season.

Lidge is day to day with inflammation in his right knee, the Phillies said. He had an MRI exam April 20.

"Based on the MRI, I'm not overly concerned," Lidge said. "It didn't show any tears. I'm dealing with fluid and inflammation in there. I'm concerned on a small level because it's not feeling great, and I want to get back as fast as possible. But if we nip it in the bud, hopefully it will be resolved for the rest of the year and it's something I won't have to worry about."

Howard's shot to center off rookie starter Shairon Martis tied the score at 6. After the Nationals scored four times in the eighth to go up 11-7, Ibanez capped a six-run surge in the bottom half with a two-out slam off Hanrahan (0-1).

"It's tough to see those guys put up 11 runs and we don't win the game," Hanrahan said. "I feel like I let everybody down."

Ryan Zimmerman hit two of Washington's five homers, extending his hitting streak to a big league-best 16 games. Nick Johnson and Adam Dunn each had a two-run shot in the eighth, and Elijah Dukes also connected.

Signed as a free agent to a $31.5 million, three-year contract in the offseason, Ibanez is batting .342 with six homers. He came to the plate in the eighth after watching Hanrahan walk Howard and Jayson Werth in front of him and connected on a 94 mph fastball, sending the crowd of 41,620 into a frenzy.

"I thought it was fair," Ibanez said. "It had a little hook on it, but I thought it was fair enough. He's got a really good fastball. He's supplying all the power, so I was just trying to have a short swing and drive in the guy from second base, tie the game."

The previous time Philadelphia hit two grand slams in a game was Sept. 9, 2003, by Tomas Perez and Jason Michaels.

J.A. Happ (1-0) worked a hitless inning for the win.

Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton allowed three homers and six runs in 4 1-3 innings, raising his ERA to 8.41 through four starts. Zimmerman's first shot smacked off the brick wall in straightaway center, and No. 2 nearly made the second deck in left.

Dukes' homer might have traveled the farthest, landing well beyond the fence in center.

The five homers allowed by Philadelphia brought its season total to 39, highest in the majors.

"I had my worst control ever, my worst slider ever," Blanton said. "Put those together, and it's a bad night."

Until Ibanez turned it into a good one.

"This is a very resilient club," he said. "I can't remember ever being a part of a team that could (come back so often), especially late like that, but they were doing that long before I got here. I'm not going to try and figure it out. I'm just going to try and be a part of it."

Notes: Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (strained muscle on right side) didn't play for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he is on a rehabilitation assignment. He felt something during batting practice and will be re-evaluated Tuesday. Phillies utility player Greg Dobbs started for the first time this season, playing third base to give Pedro Feliz a night off. Washington manager Manny Acta said Willie Harris (strained muscle on left side) will be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. Justin Maxwell will likely be optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Acta also expects SS Cristian Guzman (left hamstring) to be activated Wednesday.