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Burrell's blast lifts Phillies past Giants

May 3, 2008 - 5:29 AM By Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - Pat Burrell made sure that Aaron Rowand would not come back to haunt the Philadelphia Phillies.

Burrell hit a two-out, two-run home run off Brian Wilson in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Phillies a 6-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Burrell's blast came after ex-teammate Rowand hit the first pitch off J.C. Romero in the top of the inning for a home run that gave the Giants a 5-4 lead.

"It's been a while. I'm not usually in the game at the end," Burrell said of his game-winning blast. "Fortunately for us, I got a good pitch to hit and was able to hit it."

"(Burrell) has been big," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's been clutch for us."

The Giants bullpen had done an excellent job of limiting the potent Phillies offense to just one hit in five scoreless innings before Wilson, the sixth reliever, came on to start the 10th.

"A one-run lead doesn't mean much," Rowand said. "Anything can happen here. It's part of the game and Pat put together a good at-bat."

Wilson (0-1) struck out Jayson Werth to start the frame before Chase Utley reached on a bloop single. Wilson then got Ryan Howard on a called third strike for the second out. Howard was ejected by plate umpire Derryl Cosuins for arguing the call.

Wilson fell behind Burrell 3-0 before coming back to make the count 3-2. Burrell then launched the next pitch deep into the left field seats for his third career walkoff homer.

"You get in a situation 3-0, you know the guy's gonna come after you," said Burrell, who saw nothing but fastballs from Wilson. "It took me two swings to kind of time him up. I was just hoping to see the ball.

"He was throwing really hard. I got to 3-0 and I just figured I got to take a chance at this. Just take a swing and see where I'm at."

It was Burrell's first walkoff home run since April 10, 2002.

"It was a good battle," Wilson said. "Obviously, it didn't finish well, but it's not something I can dwell on. I just have to forget about it."

Romero (2-0) earned the win despite giving up the home run to Rowand.

"Extra-inning losses are always the toughest," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We're going to wash this one off, that's for sure."

San Francisco trailed 4-1 entering the seventh against Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick left the game after giving up two singles to start the frame for Ryan Madson. The Giants eventually tied the game on a two-run single by Ray Durham and an RBI grounder by Bengie Molina.

Philadelphia took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning off Giants starter Pat Misch. Werth reached on a one-out, bloop single to right before Utley followed with a two-run home run just inside the right field foul pole for his 12th homer of the season.

Rowand keyed a two-out rally in the fourth to get the Giants on the board. The ex-Phillie, who doffed his helmet after receiving an ovation from the fans in his first at-bat, doubled to left. Two batters later, Jose Castillo scored Rowand with a single to cut the deficit to 2-1.

"It was great being back playing in front of the (Philadelphia) fans again," said Rowand, who signed with the Giants as a free agent during the offseason. "Getting the opportunity to say thank you for all that they did for me while I was here."

Philadelphia answered right back in the bottom half of the inning when Misch issued a leadoff walk to Burrell. Pedro Feliz, the ex-Giant, drove Misch's next pitch over the fence down the left field line for a two-run homer to make it, 4-1.

Kendrick was charged with three runs on eight hits in six-plus innings. The righthander had no walks and tied his career-high with six strikeouts.

Misch, who started after Barry Zito was moved to the bullpen, lasted four innings and surrendered four runs on five hits.