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Phillies top Rockies on Howard double

Sep 11, 2007 - 5:14 AM By Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - Ryan Howard doubled to the left field corner in the 10th inning to drive in Chase Utley and lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a crucial 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday.

The victory moved the Phillies (76-67) to within 1 1/2 games of the idle San Diego Padres (77-65) in the National League wild card race.

"For us to be able to gain a half-game on them tonight was definitely huge," Howard said.

Taylor Buchholz (6-5) started the 10th for the Rockies and gave up a single to Utley to lead off the inning. Pat Burrell struck out but Howard followed with a fly ball into the corner in left field.

Matt Holliday tried to backhand the ball on a bounce and could not come up with it. He then lost the ball in his feet as Utley motored home from first with the winning run.

"It was maybe a sinking fastball away," Howard said of the game-winning hit. "I just kind of poked it out (to left) and I saw it had a lot of slice on it. I saw that Chase got a pretty good jump. When I saw that (Holliday) didn't feel it cleanly, I knew that (Utley would score)."

Brett Myers (4-6) allowed two hits and a walk in two innings to pick up the win.

"We're just playing pretty good ball," Myers said. "We're not giving up. I don't think there's any quit in anybody."

For a while it looked like the Phillies would lose ground in their quest to earn their first playoff berth since 1993, but they rallied late against the Rockies' bullpen.

Reliever LaTroy Hawkins started the seventh inning for the Rockies, who led 5-2. He retired the first two batters before Jimmy Rollins singled. Jeremy Affeldt replaced Hawkins and walked Utley as Rollins stole second and third during Utley's at-bat.

"It was a difficult seventh inning for us, there's no doubt about that," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "You feel the sting of every defeat this late in the season when you're playing games of importance."

The stolen bases didn't matter however, as Jorge Julio came on for Affeldt and promptly blew his sixth save in as many opportunities. Pat Burrell blasted a 2-0 offering deep over the fence down the left field line to tie the game, 5-5.

"We kept it close enough where we needed a big hit," Burrell said. "Obviously, it's great to contribute and hit a big homer like that. At this point now, it's just trying to maintain what I'm doing and keep going."

Burrell has hit 17 home runs since the All-Star break and his 53 RBI after the break are the most in the NL.

"Burrell's been swinging the bat very well for them for a long time," Hurdle said. "They're riding him."

Colorado's bullpen wasted a fine outing by starter Ubaldo Jimenez. The 23-year-old allowed two runs on only four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings.

"(Jimenez) looked very good tonight," Hurdle said. "This kid is growing before our eyes."

The Phillies grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning as they continued their recent success in hitting with two outs. Carlos Ruiz led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second and one out later, scored on a single by Utley.

The Rockies scored twice in the fourth, but had a controversial call go against them that negated two more runs.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Yorvit Torrealba drove a 2-1 pitch to deep right field. A fan appeared to reach over the fence and touch the ball and first base umpire Mike DiMuro signaled fan interference.

Torrealba was credited with a two-run ground-rule double to give Colorado a 2-1 lead.

Hurdle came out to argue with DiMuro, then had a lengthy argument with crew chief John Hirschbeck. After all four umpires huddled in the infield to discuss the play, the call stood.

"Initially, (DiMuro) called it a home run, then he called it a double and he said he was sure," Hurdle said. "If you're sure, then why did you initially call it a home run, then you call it a double? I don't think they got the call right. It took two runs away."

Troy Tulowitzki had no such controversy in the fifth when he hit a one-out, solo home run to left-center to up Colorado's advantage to 3-1.

Tulowitzki's 20th homer established a new NL record for home runs by a rookie shortstop. He broke the mark of 19 set by Ernie Banks in 1954.

Philadelphia starter Kyle Lohse went six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. He walked two, struck out five and hit a batter.

Howard hit his 37th home run in the sixth to pull Philadelphia within 3-2, but the Phillies' bullpen quickly gave the momentum back to the Rockies.

Jose Mesa started the seventh inning and issued a four-pitch walk to Tulowitzki. Holliday then hit Mesa's next pitch deep into the left-center field seats for a two-run homer that gave Colorado a 5-2 lead.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel saw enough and replaced Mesa after five pitches with J.C. Romero, who retired the next three batters to end the inning.