GAME THREAD: NL: PHILADELPHIA (57-52) at MILWAUKEE (59-51)

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - PITCHING CHANGE
MIL: FRANCISCO CORDERO (0-4, 3.22) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 5, MILWAUKEE 6

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPH: C ROBERSON (.357, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL AT MILWAUKEE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: F Cordero relieved D Turnbow.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: PHILADELPHIA 5
MILWAUKEE 6 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR PHILADELPHIA: C Roberson (.357, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PHILADELPHIA 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 8 0
MILWAUKEE 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 x 6 9 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PHI - COLE HAMELS, TOM GORDON (8TH) AND CARLOS RUIZ

MIL - DAVE BUSH, BRIAN SHOUSE (6TH), SCOTT LINEBRINK
(7TH), DERRICK TURNBOW (8TH), FRANCISCO CORDERO (9TH) AND
JOHNNY ESTRADA

HOME RUNS: PHI - RYAN HOWARD (30) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
PAT BURRELL (17) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 2ND, 1 ON
GREG DOBBS (8) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

MIL - RYAN BRAUN (19) OFF COLE HAMELS IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
PRINCE FIELDER (32) OFF TOM GORDON IN THE 8TH, 1 ON</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PHILADELPHIA 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 8 0
MILWAUKEE 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 x 6 9 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PHI - COLE HAMELS, TOM GORDON (8TH) AND CARLOS RUIZ

MIL - DAVE BUSH, BRIAN SHOUSE (6TH), SCOTT LINEBRINK
(7TH), DERRICK TURNBOW (8TH), FRANCISCO CORDERO (9TH) AND
JOHNNY ESTRADA


WP - DERRICK TURNBOW (3-4)
LP - TOM GORDON (1-2)
SAVE - FRANCISCO CORDERO (34)

HOME RUNS: PHI - RYAN HOWARD (30) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
PAT BURRELL (17) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 2ND, 1 ON
GREG DOBBS (8) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

MIL - RYAN BRAUN (19) OFF COLE HAMELS IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
PRINCE FIELDER (32) OFF TOM GORDON IN THE 8TH, 1 ON


TIME: 2:25 ATT: 42,126

PROBABLES: PHI - ADAM EATON (9-7, 5.87)
MIL - JEFF SUPPAN (8-9, 4.97)</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">PHILADELPHIA (5) VS MILWAUKEE (6) - FINAL

PHILADELPHIA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Roberson rf 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 .333
T Iguchi 2b 5 0 1 0 0 2 1 .333
J Rollins ss 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 .294
R Howard 1b 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .271
A Rowand cf 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 .315
P Burrell lf 4 1 1 2 0 2 3 .269
J Werth lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
G Dobbs 3b 4 2 2 1 0 0 0 .288
T Gordon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C Ruiz c 2 0 2 1 2 0 0 .260
C Hamels p 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .148
a-A Nunez ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250

Totals 34 5 8 5 4 7 11

a-grounded to second for C Hamels in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Ruiz 2 (24, D Bush 2); G Dobbs (15, D Bush). HR - R Howard (30,
2nd inning off D Bush 0 on, 0 Out), P Burrell (17, 2nd inning off D Bush 1 on,
0 Out), G Dobbs (8, 4th inning off D Bush 0 on, 2 Out). S - C Hamels. RBI - R
Howard (89), P Burrell 2 (58), G Dobbs (39), C Ruiz (37). 2-out RBI - G Dobbs.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - P Burrell 2, C Hamels 1, C Roberson
1, T Iguchi 1. GIDP - A Nunez. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Ruiz (3, 2nd base off D Bush/J Estrada).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Howard-J Rollins-R Howard).


MILWAUKEE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Hart rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .277
J Hardy ss 4 2 2 2 0 0 0 .273
R Braun 3b 4 1 2 1 0 0 2 .348
P Fielder 1b 4 1 2 3 0 0 1 .289
B Hall cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .262
K Mench lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272
J Estrada c 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289
T Graffanino 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .238
D Bush p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
B Shouse p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-J Dillon ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
S Linebrink p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Counsell ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
D Turnbow p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
F Cordero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 32 6 9 6 0 5 7

a-reached on infield single to third for B Shouse in the 6th; b-flied out to
right for S Linebrink in the 7th.

BATTING: 2B - J Hardy (18, C Hamels). HR - R Braun (19, 1st inning off C Hamels
0 on, 2 Out), P Fielder (32, 8th inning off T Gordon 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - R
Braun (52), J Hardy 2 (63), P Fielder 3 (83). 2-out RBI - R Braun, P Fielder 3.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Mench 1. GIDP - P Fielder. Team LOB
- 2.

FIELDING: E - J Hardy (11, pop up). DP: 1 (J Hardy-T Graffanino-P Fielder).



----------------------------------------------------
PHILADELPHIA - 030 101 000 -- 5
MILWAUKEE - 100 003 02x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

PHILADELPHIA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Hamels 7 7 4 4 0 5 1 3.57
T Gordon (L, 1-2; H, 3) 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 4.70

MILWAUKEE ip h r er bb so hr era
D Bush 5 8 5 5 3 4 3 5.03
B Shouse 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.89
S Linebrink 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.56
D Turnbow (W, 3-4) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.04
F Cordero (S, 34) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.15

D Bush pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.

Pitches-strikes: C Hamels 89-68; T Gordon 21-14; D Bush 90-60; B Shouse 12-9;
S Linebrink 11-8; D Turnbow 18-9; F Cordero 15-9. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Hamels 8-8; T Gordon 0-3; D Bush 4-7; B Shouse 1-1; S Linebrink 0-2; D Turnbow
2-0; F Cordero 0-3. Batters faced: C Hamels 27; T Gordon 5; D Bush 26; B Shouse
3; S Linebrink 3; D Turnbow 4; F Cordero 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Jeff Kellogg. 3B--Eric
Cooper.

T--2:25. Att--42,126.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
PHILADELPHIA 5
MILWAUKEE 6 FINAL</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PHILADELPHIA (5) AT MILWAUKEE (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MILWAUKEE 1ST: C Hart struck out swinging. J Hardy flied out to center.
R Braun homered to left center. P Fielder grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 0, MILWAUKEE 1.

PHILADELPHIA 2ND: R Howard homered to center. A Rowand walked. P Burrell
homered to left, A Rowand scored. G Dobbs grounded out to first. C Ruiz
walked. C Hamels struck out swinging, C Ruiz stole second. C Roberson
grounded out to pitcher. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, MILWAUKEE 1.

PHILADELPHIA 4TH: A Rowand flied out to center. P Burrell struck out
swinging. G Dobbs homered to right. C Ruiz doubled to left. C Hamels struck
out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

PHILADELPHIA 6TH: G Dobbs hit a ground rule double to deep right. C Ruiz
doubled to deep right center, G Dobbs scored. B Shouse relieved D Bush.
C Hamels sacrificed to pitcher, C Ruiz to third. C Roberson fouled out to
catcher. T Iguchi struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5,
MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 6TH: T Graffanino reached on infield single to first. J Dillon
hit for B Shouse. J Dillon reached on infield single to third, T Graffanino to
second. C Hart struck out looking. J Hardy doubled to deep center,
T Graffanino and J Dillon scored. R Braun flied out to left. P Fielder singled
to right, J Hardy scored. B Hall singled to right, P Fielder to second.
K Mench lined out to right. (3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, MILWAUKEE 4.

MILWAUKEE 8TH: J Werth in left field. T Gordon relieved C Hamels. A Nunez
at third base. C Hart flied out to right. J Hardy reached on infield single to
third. R Braun popped out to first. P Fielder homered to right, J Hardy
scored. B Hall fouled out to catcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5,
MILWAUKEE 6.</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PHILADELPHIA 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 5 8 0
MILWAUKEE 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 x 6 9 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PHI - COLE HAMELS, TOM GORDON (8TH) AND CARLOS RUIZ

MIL - DAVE BUSH, BRIAN SHOUSE (6TH), SCOTT LINEBRINK
(7TH), DERRICK TURNBOW (8TH), FRANCISCO CORDERO (9TH) AND
JOHNNY ESTRADA


WP - DERRICK TURNBOW (3-4)
LP - TOM GORDON (1-2)
SAVE - FRANCISCO CORDERO (34)

HOME RUNS: PHI - RYAN HOWARD (30) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
PAT BURRELL (17) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 2ND, 1 ON
GREG DOBBS (8) OFF DAVE BUSH IN THE 4TH, 0 ON

MIL - RYAN BRAUN (19) OFF COLE HAMELS IN THE 1ST, 0 ON
PRINCE FIELDER (32) OFF TOM GORDON IN THE 8TH, 1 ON


TIME: 2:25 ATT: 42,126

PROBABLES: PHI - ADAM EATON (9-7, 5.87)
MIL - JEFF SUPPAN (8-9, 4.97)</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PHILADELPHIA (5) AT MILWAUKEE (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Philadelphia Starting Lineups -- C Roberson RF, T Iguchi 2B, J Rollins SS,
R Howard 1B, A Rowand CF, P Burrell LF, G Dobbs 3B, C Ruiz C, C Hamels LHP.

Milwaukee Starting Lineups -- C Hart RF, J Hardy SS, R Braun 3B, P Fielder 1B,
B Hall CF, K Mench LF, J Estrada C, T Graffanino 2B, D Bush RHP.

Umpires -- Andy Fletcher (HP), Mike Reilly (1B), Jeff Kellogg (2B), Eric Cooper (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


PHILADELPHIA 1ST: C Roberson flied out to center. T Iguchi popped out to
second. J Rollins flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 0,
MILWAUKEE 0.

MILWAUKEE 1ST: C Hart struck out swinging. J Hardy flied out to center.
R Braun homered to left center. P Fielder grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 0, MILWAUKEE 1.

PHILADELPHIA 2ND: R Howard homered to center. A Rowand walked. P Burrell
homered to left, A Rowand scored. G Dobbs grounded out to first. C Ruiz
walked. C Hamels struck out swinging, C Ruiz stole second. C Roberson
grounded out to pitcher. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 2ND: B Hall grounded out to shortstop. K Mench lined out to
left. J Estrada grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 3, MILWAUKEE 1.

PHILADELPHIA 3RD: T Iguchi struck out swinging. J Rollins grounded out to
shortstop. R Howard flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 3, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 3RD: T Graffanino grounded out to third. D Bush grounded out to
shortstop. C Hart struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 3,
MILWAUKEE 1.

PHILADELPHIA 4TH: A Rowand flied out to center. P Burrell struck out
swinging. G Dobbs homered to right. C Ruiz doubled to left. C Hamels struck
out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 4TH: J Hardy popped out to second. R Braun singled to right.
P Fielder grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first, R Braun out at
second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

PHILADELPHIA 5TH: C Roberson popped out to third. T Iguchi reached on
infield single to third. J Rollins lined out to center. R Howard singled to
right, T Iguchi to second. A Rowand walked, T Iguchi to third, R Howard to
second. P Burrell grounded into fielder's choice to third, A Rowand out at
second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 4, MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 5TH: B Hall struck out swinging. K Mench grounded out to second.
J Estrada struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 4,
MILWAUKEE 1.

PHILADELPHIA 6TH: G Dobbs hit a ground rule double to deep right. C Ruiz
doubled to deep right center, G Dobbs scored. B Shouse relieved D Bush.
C Hamels sacrificed to pitcher, C Ruiz to third. C Roberson fouled out to
catcher. T Iguchi struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5,
MILWAUKEE 1.

MILWAUKEE 6TH: T Graffanino reached on infield single to first. J Dillon
hit for B Shouse. J Dillon reached on infield single to third, T Graffanino to
second. C Hart struck out looking. J Hardy doubled to deep center,
T Graffanino and J Dillon scored. R Braun flied out to left. P Fielder singled
to right, J Hardy scored. B Hall singled to right, P Fielder to second.
K Mench lined out to right. (3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, MILWAUKEE 4.

PHILADELPHIA 7TH: S Linebrink relieved B Shouse. J Rollins popped out to
second. R Howard struck out swinging. A Rowand fouled out to first. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, MILWAUKEE 4.

MILWAUKEE 7TH: J Estrada lined out to center. T Graffanino popped out to
third. C Counsell hit for S Linebrink. C Counsell flied out to right. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, MILWAUKEE 4.

PHILADELPHIA 8TH: D Turnbow relieved S Linebrink. P Burrell struck out
swinging. G Dobbs safe at second on error by shortstop J Hardy. C Ruiz
walked. A Nunez hit for C Hamels. A Nunez grounded into double play, shortstop
to second to first, C Ruiz out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error)
PHILADELPHIA 5, MILWAUKEE 4.

MILWAUKEE 8TH: J Werth in left field. T Gordon relieved C Hamels. A Nunez
at third base. C Hart flied out to right. J Hardy reached on infield single to
third. R Braun popped out to first. P Fielder homered to right, J Hardy
scored. B Hall fouled out to catcher. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5,
MILWAUKEE 6.

PHILADELPHIA 9TH: F Cordero relieved D Turnbow. C Roberson flied out to
right. T Iguchi flied out to right. J Rollins flied out to right. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, MILWAUKEE 6.</div>

 

Fielder's blast in eighth sinks Phillies

<h3>MILWAUKEE 6, PHILADELPHIA 5</h3>MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Prince Fielder and the Milwaukee Brewersrefused to stand by and let the Chicago Cubs take over the leadin the National League Central Division.


Fielder's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning offTom Gordon led the Brewers to a 6-5 win over the PhiladelphiaPhillies on Saturday at Miller Park.


Rookie Ryan Braun also homered for the Brewers, who beat thePhillies for the second straight night.


In the eighth, Gordon (1-2) allowed a one-out infield single byJ.J. Hardy down the third base line. Braun then popped out, butFielder delivered a blast to right field for his NL-leading32nd blast of the season, erasing a 5-4 deficit.


The homer made a winner of Derrick Turnbow (3-4), who tossed ascoreless top of the eighth. With the help of right fielderCorey Hart, who made a brilliant catch in the ninth, FranciscoCordero retired the side in order for his NL-best 34th save.

With the triumph, the Brewers (60-51) maintained their one-gamelead over the Cubs (58-51) in the Central.


Philadelphia got to Milwaukee starter Dave Bush early, opening a3-1 lead in the second inning. After Braun belted his 19thhomer in the first, reigning NL MVP Ryan Howard hit his 30th ofthe season to lead off the second inning.


Bush then walked Aaron Rowand before Pat Burrell connected forhis fourth blast in five games, giving the Phillies theadvantage.


The home run extended Burrell's hitting streak to 13 games.During the Phillies' current road trip, Burrell is hitting .450(9-for-20) with four home runs, four RBI and six runs scored insix contests.


Greg Dobbs homered off Bush in the fourth inning and Carlos Ruizadded an RBI double in the sixth to give Philadelphia a 5-1lead.


Starter Cole Hamels cruised through the first five innings,allowing two hits - both by Braun. But in the sixth, theAll-Star lefthander ran into trouble.


Tony Graffanino and pinch hitter Joe Dillon reached onconsecutive infield singles and, after Hart struck out, J.J.Hardy delivered a two-run double to center field. Two batterslater, Hardy scored on Prince Fielder's single, drawingMilwaukee within 5-4.


The Brewers tried to keep the rally going as Bill Hall followedwith a single, but right fielder Chris Roberson made a divingcatch on Kevin Mench's sinking line drive to end the threat.

Hamels returned to pitch a perfect seventh before giving way toGordon. He yielded four runs and seven hits, striking out fivewithout a walk.


Bush allowed back-to-back doubles by Dobbs and Ruiz to start thetop of the sixth before being lifted. The righthandersurrendered five runs and eight hits - including six for extrabases - with three walks and four strikeouts in five-plusframes.


With the loss, Philadelphia (57-53) remained five games behindthe first-place New York Mets (62-48) in the NL East.

 

Fielder's blast in eighth sinks Phillies

<h3>MILWAUKEE 6, PHILADELPHIA 5</h3>MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Prince Fielder and the Milwaukee Brewersrefused to stand by and let the Chicago Cubs take over the leadin the National League Central Division.


Fielder's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning offTom Gordon led the Brewers to a 6-5 win over the PhiladelphiaPhillies on Saturday at Miller Park.


Rookie Ryan Braun also homered for the Brewers, who beat thePhillies for the second straight night.


In the eighth, Gordon (1-2) allowed a one-out infield single byJ.J. Hardy down the third base line. Braun then popped out, butFielder delivered a blast to right field for his NL-leading32nd blast of the season, erasing a 5-4 deficit.


The homer made a winner of Derrick Turnbow (3-4), who tossed ascoreless top of the eighth. With the help of right fielderCorey Hart, who made a brilliant catch in the ninth, FranciscoCordero retired the side in order for his NL-best 34th save.

With the triumph, the Brewers (60-51) maintained their one-gamelead over the Cubs (58-51) in the Central.


Philadelphia got to Milwaukee starter Dave Bush early, opening a3-1 lead in the second inning. After Braun belted his 19thhomer in the first, reigning NL MVP Ryan Howard hit his 30th ofthe season to lead off the second inning.


Bush then walked Aaron Rowand before Pat Burrell connected forhis fourth blast in five games, giving the Phillies theadvantage.


The home run extended Burrell's hitting streak to 13 games.During the Phillies' current road trip, Burrell is hitting .450(9-for-20) with four home runs, five RBI and six runs scored insix contests.


Greg Dobbs homered off Bush in the fourth inning and Carlos Ruizadded an RBI double in the sixth to give Philadelphia a 5-1lead.


Starter Cole Hamels cruised through the first five innings,allowing two hits - both by Braun. But in the sixth, theAll-Star lefthander ran into trouble.


Tony Graffanino and pinch hitter Joe Dillon reached onconsecutive infield singles and, after Hart struck out, J.J.Hardy delivered a two-run double to center field. Two batterslater, Hardy scored on Prince Fielder's single, drawingMilwaukee within 5-4.


The Brewers tried to keep the rally going as Bill Hall followedwith a single, but right fielder Chris Roberson made a divingcatch on Kevin Mench's sinking line drive to end the threat.

Hamels returned to pitch a perfect seventh before giving way toGordon. He yielded four runs and seven hits, striking out fivewithout a walk.


Bush allowed back-to-back doubles by Dobbs and Ruiz to start thetop of the sixth before being lifted. The righthandersurrendered five runs and eight hits - including six for extrabases - with three walks and four strikeouts in five-plusframes.


With the loss, Philadelphia (57-53) remained five games behindthe first-place New York Mets (62-48) in the NL East.

 

Fielder's blast in eighth sinks Phillies

<h3>MILWAUKEE 6, PHILADELPHIA 5</h3>MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Prince Fielder and the Milwaukee Brewersrefused to stand by and let the Chicago Cubs take over the leadin the National League Central Division.


Fielder's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning offTom Gordon led the Brewers to a 6-5 win over the PhiladelphiaPhillies on Saturday at Miller Park.


Rookie Ryan Braun also homered for the Brewers, who beat thePhillies for the second straight night.


"Earlier in the year, that's how we were playing," Fielder said."We stayed with it no matter who was out there. Lately, if agood pitcher is out there, we'd get down. Today, and evenyesterday, we stayed in there and stayed positive."

In the eighth, Gordon (1-2) allowed a one-out infield single byJ.J. Hardy down the third base line. Braun then popped out, butFielder delivered a blast to right field for his NL-leading32nd blast of the season, erasing a 5-4 deficit.


"I knew he was going to be aggressive, so I was just trying tostay aggressive also and try to hit the ball hard," Fieldersaid. "With two strikes, you really focus on the ball and putit in play, and good things happen."


The homer made a winner of Derrick Turnbow (3-4), who tossed ascoreless top of the eighth. With the help of right fielderCorey Hart, who made a brilliant catch in the ninth, FranciscoCordero retired the side in order for his NL-best 34th save.

With one out in the ninth, Cordero surrendered a deep drive toright by Tadahito Iguchi. The 6-6 Hart needed all of his heightand more, timing his jump perfectly and robbing Iguchi of agame-tying home run.


"If I'm 5-8, I don't get that ball. I'm good for something,"said Hart, who went 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts."I was just trying to get back and get a good jump. You try toget back to the wall as soon as you can. It kept carryingpretty good."


Hart's catch helped extend Philadelphia's losing streak atMiller Park to seven straight games.


"Every game is a must-win for this team," Iguchi said. "Wereally felt we could have taken this game. My last at-bat, wethought we could have tied the game. I was praying on my way tofirst base."


With the triumph, the Brewers (60-51) maintained their one-gamelead over the Cubs (58-51) in the Central.


"I'd have a hard time thinking back this year and finding a moreexciting win," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "The fans wereinto it, and our guys, you could see they were staying afterit."


Philadelphia got to Milwaukee starter Dave Bush early, opening a3-1 lead in the second inning. After Braun belted his 19thhomer in the first, reigning NL MVP Ryan Howard hit his 30th ofthe season to lead off the second inning.


Bush then walked Aaron Rowand before Pat Burrell connected forhis fourth blast in five games, giving the Phillies theadvantage.


The home run extended Burrell's hitting streak to 13 games.During the Phillies' current road trip, Burrell is hitting .450(9-for-20) with four home runs, five RBI and six runs scored insix contests.


Greg Dobbs homered off Bush in the fourth inning and Carlos Ruizadded an RBI double in the sixth to give Philadelphia a 5-1lead.


Starter Cole Hamels cruised through the first five innings,allowing two hits - both by Braun. But in the sixth, theAll-Star lefthander ran into trouble.


Tony Graffanino and pinch hitter Joe Dillon reached onconsecutive infield singles and, after Hart struck out, J.J.Hardy delivered a two-run double to center field. Two batterslater, Hardy scored on Prince Fielder's single, drawingMilwaukee within 5-4.


"He's tough," Fielder said of Hamels. "His changeup is one ofthe best pitches in the game."


The Brewers tried to keep the rally going as Bill Hall followedwith a single, but right fielder Chris Roberson made a divingcatch on Kevin Mench's sinking line drive to end the threat.

Hamels returned to pitch a perfect seventh before giving way toGordon. He yielded four runs and seven hits, striking out fivewithout a walk.


Bush allowed back-to-back doubles by Dobbs and Ruiz to start thetop of the sixth before being lifted. The righthandersurrendered five runs and eight hits - including six for extrabases - with three walks and four strikeouts in five-plusframes.


With the loss, Philadelphia (57-53) remained five games behindthe first-place New York Mets (62-48) in the NL East.

The Phillies took the setback hard. Manager Charlie Manuelclosed the door to his office and did not speak to the media,and Hamels also refused to comment.


"All (losses) are tough this late in the season," Gordon said."Every game counts. I let a good game get away."