Deja vu: Phils rally in 9th to edge Rockies
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phillies, seeking to salvage something from a lost season, continue to win in dramatic fashion.
Domonic Brown singled home the decisive run Thursday night as the Phillies scored twice in the bottom of the ninth for the second straight night to beat the Colorado Rockies 5-4.
It was the fourth victory in the last five games for Philadelphia, three of them of the walk-off variety. In all, the Phillies are 4-3 under interim manager Ryne Sandberg, who replaced the fired Charlie Manuel last Friday.
"There's a sense in the games that good things can happen with the positive energy and the guys pulling for each other," Sandberg said.
"The key is, we're bearing down as a unit," said Michael Young, who drove in the tying run with an infield single and scored the game-winner on Brown's hit. "That's something we weren't doing earlier in the year. ... If we were down, we were losing."
Young had the game-winning single off Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 4-3 victory. On Thursday, Betancourt, entrusted with a 4-3 lead, retired the first two hitters he faced in the ninth, then allowed a double to Jimmy Rollins.
Rollins stole third, and Young dribbled a ball to third that eluded the grasp of third baseman Nolan Arenado, who attempted to make a barehanded play.
Betancourt (2-5), who blew his second straight save and his third in 19 opportunities, then departed with an elbow injury and was replaced by Jeff Francis.
Francis walked Chase Utley, and Brown lined the first pitch he saw into right field. Young beat the throw home from right fielder Michael Cuddyer.
"I just got a good pitch to hit," Brown said. "I knew he was going to try to get ahead. I was looking for something up that I could drive."
Sandberg said, "Brownie just seemed to be the right guy at the right time. He seems to be a guy that likes that. He has a lot of confidence."
Cesar Jimenez (1-0) worked one scoreless inning for the victory.
"That was a tough loss," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "The Phillies kept fighting. The swinging bunt (by Young), I don't think we would have made the play."
Colorado's Wilin Rosario snapped a 1-1 tie with a three-run homer off Kyle Kendrick in the sixth inning. It was the 20th home run of the year and third in as many nights for the Colorado catcher, who extended his hitting streak, already a career best, to 13 games.
Philadelphia's Darin Ruf hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Rockies reliever Matt Belisle, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
Kendrick surrendered four runs on eight hits in five-plus innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Colorado starter Chad Bettis, seeking his first major league victory, worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits. He struck out five and walked one.
The Phillies jumped on top courtesy of Cody Asche's RBI double in the second, but the Rockies drew even on Dexter Fowler's sacrifice fly in the fifth.
NOTES: It was Brown's second walk-off hit. The other came on June 17 against Washington. ... Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki has hit safely in nine straight games. ... Rollins, went 2-for-5, his 32nd multi-hit game of the season. ... Sandberg said before the game it would be "counterproductive" for 1B Ryan Howard to return from knee surgery this year, adding that it is more important that Howard get in the best shape possibile in time for spring training next year. Howard is currently working out in Clearwater, Fla., and Sandberg said "for the most part" Howard would remain there all winter. ... Colorado RHP Roy Oswalt, out since July 4 with a hamstring strain, pitched a simulated game Thursday and will make at least one more simulated start Sunday in Miami or Monday in Denver. ... Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood, out since July 31 with elbow inflammation, pitched three innings in a simulated game Thursday and will make a rehab start Sunday.
