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Howard lifts Phillies over Padres in extras

Apr 24, 2011 - 7:08 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard made San Diego pay for pitching to him in the 11th inning, belting a two-run double to lift the Philadelphia Phillies over the Padres, 4-2, and push their winning streak to 10 games at Petco Park.

With Placido Polanco on third base with two outs in top of the 11th, the Padres decided to walk Jimmy Rollins to get to Howard, who had struck out his last four times at the plate. The All-Star first baseman then ripped a shot off of Cory Luebke to the opposite field fence to score both Polanco and Rollins.

"I just tried to stay with it the whole game," said Howard. "You know, four strikeouts in four at-bats you can get down on yourself but if you stay with it you can come through."

Kyle Kendrick (1-1) got the win, pitching a perfect 10th, while Ryan Madson came in for the 11th to get his second straight save and give the Phillies the first three games of a four-game set in San Diego.

Chad Qualls (0-2) was charged for the loss, having left two runners on in the 11th for the Padres, who have lost five of their last six contests overall.

"There was some history with Qualls and Rollins and I liked the matchup with Howard better," said San Diego manager Bud Black. "It didn't work out for us this time."

Polanco, who replaced Wilson Valdez at third in the 10th, led off the 11th with a sharp grounder up the middle. Shane Victorino's bunt moved Polanco to second and he reached third on Pete Orr's grounder.

That set up the Padres to walk Rollins and pitch to Howard, which ultimately was the wrong decision.

Madison came in to close the game and gave up a two-out single to Ryan Ludwick. Brad Hawpe then launched a high fly ball to the left field warning track, but Raul Ibanez calmly caught the ball to end the game.

San Diego jumped on Philadelphia starter Joe Blanton quickly as Cameron Maybin led the first inning off with a single and scored on Jason Bartlett's triple. It was the first run scored by the Padres in 22 innings.

The Phillies got one back in the fourth when Ben Francisco ripped a two-out RBI triple into center that just missed Will Venable's diving attempt.

The Padres snatched the lead back in the fifth on Nick Hundley's double down the right field line to bring home Maybin, who reached third with a single and two ground outs.

The score was tied right back up in sixth, 2-2, when Rollins hit a grounder through the middle that Bartlett could not hold on to, scoring Orr.

Neither team could get on the board until the 11th with the Phillies bullpen doing its job by pitching four scoreless innings.

The Padres bullpen also had four shutout innings until the 11th.

Game Notes

The Phillies improved to 7-2 on the road this season...Howard also had a four strike outs in the first game of the series...Philadelphia has won 13 of the last 15 meetings against the Padres...Polanco has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games.