PBR - Ryan Howard was having an awful day at the plate on Sunday, but it took just one at-bat to redeem a lackluster afternoon.
With the bases loaded in the ninth inning Howard singled to right allowing Juan Pierre to score the winning run as the Phillies trumped the Diamondbacks 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
Prior to the game-winner Howard was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and was riding a 5-for-35 streak with 20 strikeouts.
"You're only as good as your last at-bat," Howard said.
Erik Kratz and Chase Utley chipped in with two hits each in the win. Cliff Lee surrendered three home runs over eight innings, including a two-run shot to Chris Johnson in the second inning. He's yet to win a contest at Citizens Bank Park this season.
Jonathan Papelbon notched the win and improved to 3-4.
With the Phillies trailing 4-3 in the eighth, Diamondback's reliever David Hernandez uncorked a pair of wild pitches, committed a throwing error and left the contest with an apparent leg injury, but not before surrendering three hits and the tying run.
Paul Goldschmidt broke a 3-3 tie with a solo shot in the sixth to give the Diamondbacks a brief one-run advantage.
Trevor Cahill hurled seven innings, scattering six hits while allowing three runs. Josh Collmenter surrendered three hits and the game winning run in 1/3 of an inning.
The win moved the Phillies to fourth in the NL East.
The Phillies will open a three-game series with Atlanta on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. Vance Worley is scheduled to oppose Ben Sheets.
- Patrick Gordon is the editor of the Philadelphia Baseball Review. Contact him at pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com or @Philabaseball on Twitter.
