<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>WASHINGTON - Two blown late-inning leads culminating in a game-ending wild pitch overshadowed Ryan Howard's franchise record 49th homer and kept the Philadelphia Phillies from gaining a share of the NL wild card lead. Marlon Anderson scored from third base on Aaron Fultz's wild pitch in the 10th inning, giving the Washington Nationals a 6-5 victory Thursday night.Philadelphia led 4-2 in the ninth before Felipe Lopez had a two-run single off Arthur Rhodes with two outs. It was Rhodes' second blown save in six chances while filling in for injured closer Tom Gordon.The Phillies took a 5-4 lead in the 10th when Abraham Nunez scored from third on Brian Schneider's passed ball.Nick Johnson led off the 10th with a single and, one out later, took third on Anderson's single. Schneider followed with an RBI single, and Anderson advanced to third on Bernie Castro's flyout.Fultz (3-1) then threw a 2-0 pitch in the dirt to pinch-hitter Ryan Church that was blocked by catcher Mike Lieberthal, but the ball bounced in front of the plate and rolled toward the mound. Anderson came home as Fultz tried to pick up the ball and tag him.Ryan Wagner (2-2) pitched an inning for the victory.Howard reached base in all five plate appearances and scored three runs. He went 2-for-2, was hit by a pitch and walked twice ? once intentionally. His fourth-inning solo homer went into the upper deck in right center and broke Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt's Philadelphia record, set in 1980.Howard finished August with 14 homers and 41 RBIs. The first baseman leads the majors with 49 homers and 128 RBIs.With the loss, Philadelphia fell a game behind idle San Diego in the wild card race.In addition, he helped the Phillies rally from an early 2-0 deficit and hand Washington its fifth straight loss. The Nationals have dropped 10 of their last 11.Austin Kearns had a sacrifice fly and Anderson added an RBI single to give Washington that two-run lead in the first. The Phillies got a run in the second on a David Dellucci RBI triple, and tied it in the fourth on Howard's homer.His long shot appeared to hit a seat in the second deck before bouncing back out.Howard helped the Phillies take the lead for good in the sixth. He walked with one out and scored on Pat Burrell's two-out double. Lieberthal followed with an RBI single off Washington starter Pedro Astacio to give Philadelphia a 4-2 lead</div>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060901/ap_on_...llies_nationals
49 Homers! This kid is simply unbelievable. He ma challenge Big Papi for the HR title. He is one of the best hitters in baseball in his 2nd season! He is on pace to get 60 Homers, and 157 RBI's! Holy sh*t!
He has a chance to break Barry Bonds single season record. Not this season, but in the future. AND WITHOUT STEROIDS! (hopefully)But, I'm excited to see what this kid can do. Philly is blessed to have him. They have young talent from that Abreu deal too.
I love this man...he is going to be sick for us. He's seriously the best thing that had happened to the Phil's for a while. Hopefully he's not on steroids...but he's such a nice guy, i doubt it.
wow howard has 3 homers today, this guy is a beast.BTW i saw this guy play when he was in single A because he played for the lakewood blueclaws and im not for from the stadium
I think if the Phills win the Wild Card, he will finish top three in the MVP race. With Beltran or Pujols ahead or behind.
