Four home runs help leads the Phils to victory as they hang on to beat the Padres, 8-6.

Four home runs, two from Chase Utley, help leads the Phils to victory as they hang on to defeat the Padres, 8-6.

The Phils took a quick 3-0 lead in the first as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Chase Utley hits a three-run shot to left, his fifth home run of the year, knocking in Jimmy Rollins, who had lead-off the inning with a double, then stole third base as Shane Victorino walked, and Victorino, who had just walked. The Padres would cut the Phils’ lead in the sixth as, with one man on, and with nobody out, Cameron Maybin hits a two-run home run, his sixth home run of the year, knocking in Mat Latos, who had earlier singled, cutting the Phils’ lead down to 3-2. Two batters later, now with one man out, the Padres tied the game up at three-all as Chase Headley hits a solo home run, his third home run of the season. The Padres then took the lead in the seventh as, with a man on third, and with two men out, Maybin hits an RBI single, scoring Logan Forsythe, who had earlier tripled, giving the Padres a 4-3 lead. The Phils tied the game up at four-all in their half of the seventh as, on one pitch, pinch hitter Ryan Howard hits a solo pinch hit home run, his nineteenth home run of the season. Three batters later, with two men on, and with still nobody out, Michael Martinez hits a three-run home run of his own, his second home run of the season, knocking in pinch runner Wilson Valdez, who was running for pinch hitter Ross Gload, who had got on base with a pinch hit double, then went to third on Chad Qualls’ wild pitch, and Rollins, who had just walked, then went to second on Qualls’ wild pitch, after Martinez had earlier missed on two bunt attempts, giving the Phils a 7-4 lead. Two batters later, now with one man out, Utley hits a solo home run, his sixth home run of the year, and his second home run of the game, giving the Phils an 8-4 lead. The Padres tried to come back in the eighth as, with the bases loaded, via singles by Ryan Ludwick and Chris Denorfia, with Ludwick stopping at second base, and a walk to Forsythe, moving both runners up a base, and with two men out, Antonio Bastardo threw a wild pitch, allowing Ludwick to score, cutting the Phils’ lead down to 8-5, while allowing Denorfia to reach third base, and Forsythe to move up to second base. Two batters later, after Rob Johnson has walked, reloading the bases, the Padres made it an 8-6 Phils’ lead, as pinch hitter Kyle Phillips walked, forcing in Denorfia, while Forsythe and Johnson both moved up a base. The Phils then got out of the inning as, after Phillips was replaced at first base by pinch runner Cory Luebke, Maybin hit into a 1-3 ground out. That would be it as Ryan Madson recorded his seventeenth save of the season by getting Kyle Blanks to strikeout, swinging.

Kyle Kendrick received a no-decision as he went five and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks, while he struck out one. Michael Stutes (5-1, 3.38) got the win as he pitched an inning and a third, giving up a run on two hits, as he struck out one. Antonio Bastardo pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs on two hits, a wild pitch and two walks. David Herndon recorded his third hold of the year as he pitched a third of an inning, giving up a walk. Ryan Madson received his seventeenth save of the season as he pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while he struck out two. Mat Latos also received a no-decision as he went six innings, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks, as he struck out seven. Chad Qualls blew his fourth save opportunity of the year before taking the lost (4-5, 3.51), as he pitched a third of an inning, giving up five runs on four hits and a walk. Anthony Bass pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit, as he struck out a batter. Josh Spence pitched a third of an inning, giving up a hit and a walk, while he struck out one.

The Phils had eleven hits in the ballgame, with Chase Utley leading the team with three hits, a single and two home runs, knocking in four runs, as he raised his average to .286. Jimmy Rollins (Double), Michael Martinez (Home Run, 3 RBIs), Shane Victorino (Single), Dom Brown (Double), John Mayberry, Jr. (Single), pinch hitter Ryan Howard (Home Run, RBI), pinch hitter Ross Gload (Double) and pinch hitter Carlos Ruiz (Double), had the other eight Phils’ hits, as the team came out swinging late in the game to win it.

The Phils (63-36, 1st East) will continue their series with the Padres (44-57, 4th West) with an afternoon game, already in progress.

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