PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard hit a tying three-run homer in the ninth inning before Paul Bako’s single gave the Philadelphia Phillies an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.
The Phillies, who have won eight of nine, trailed 7-3 before pinch-hitter Matt Stairs led off the ninth with a homer off Matt Capps (1-5). Jimmy Rollins walked and stole second, his third steal of the game, and Chase Utley followed with a one-out single to left.
Howard followed Utley by blasting a
1-0 pitch to tie the game at 7. Raul Ibanez, playing in his first game after missing 20 with a groin injury, then hit a ground-rule double to center. After an intentional walk to Jayson Werth and an infield single by Pedro Feliz, Bako lined a 3-2 pitch to left, sending a crowd that included Vice President Joe Biden home happy.
Tyler Walker (1-0) pitched one scoreless inning of relief.
Pittsburgh starter Ross Ohlendorf held the Phillies to five hits while allowing three runs and striking out five. The right-hander matched his career high with four walks.
Garrett Jones, Delwyn Young and Andrew McCutchen homered and drove in two runs for Pittsburgh, which lost for the eighth time in 10 games. Ryan Doumit, playing in his second straight game after returning from a broken right wrist he got April 19, went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI for the Pirates. Andy LaRoche went 2-for-4 with a double and triple and Jones had a pair of hits for Pittsburgh.
Cole Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, lasted six innings while allowing five runs on seven hits – all extra-base hits. The left-hander has allowed at least seven hits in six of his last seven starts and is 1-3 in that stretch.
Pro
Pirates squander big lead
Howard home run highlights Phillies’ five-run 9th
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Pirates pick up fourth straight victory
There were times earlier in his career when James McDonald would run into trouble and innings would slow to a crawl. Even worse, runners would disappear, and not in a good way.
Too much thinking. Not enough attacking. -
Sympathetic Pirates add to Cubs’ slide
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak
– 12 in a row, in the Cubs’ case. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. -
Greater Johnstown Speedway failed to win the support of fans
Back in the late 1950’s, the area stock car racing landscape was populated by a very strong and popular three-track weekend circuit, consisting of the Windber Stadium Speedway, Jennerstown Speedway and the Ebensburg Fairgrounds Speedway.
Thus, it came as a major surprise when the announcement was made that a new track, the Greater Johnstown Speedway, would be built and begin operation in 1958. -
Pirates blank struggling Cubs
A.J. Burnett and four relievers worked out of trouble all game and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 10th straight loss with a 1-0 victory on Friday night.
Burnett (3-2) gave up six hits, struck out six and walked two over
5 1⁄3 innings and the National League’s best bullpen made it stand up as the Pirates extended Chicago starter Ryan Dempster’s misery. Joel Hanrahan worked out of a two-on, one out jam in the ninth for his 11th save. -
Game is chance to honor fallen hero
When Joe Lindway saw the UIFL schedule for the Western Pennsylvania Sting earlier this season, his eyes immediately zeroed in on today’s date.
On Memorial Day weekend, the 38-year-old kicker would get a chance to play at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. -
Generals, Sting set to square off
The show will go on.
Jeff Bollinger, owner of the Johnstown Generals and Western Pennsylvania Sting, has been a busy man over the span of 12 days. Those efforts have gone toward getting the squads on the indoor gridiron tonight. -
Steelers rookie has big shoes to fill
Sean Spence walked toward his locker during his first day as a Pittsburgh Steeler last month, saw the number hanging from the hook and couldn’t quite believe it.
Did the Steelers really give him No. 51, the same number worn by longtime defensive captain James Farrior? -
Pirates’ Harrison showing his versatility
Josh Harrison stood in a hallway deep inside PNC Park on Tuesday afternoon, trying to make his way to the field for batting practice.
One problem. His gloves made the going slow. - More Pro Headlines
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