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Phillies barely hang on vs. Cubs

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Phillies snapped a five-game losing streak Tuesday night. But in the end, they were "hanging on for dear life," as manager Charlie Manuel said.

Not until embattled closer Jonathan Papelbon retired Chicago Cubs pinch hitter Thomas Neal on a fly ball with runners at the corners in the ninth was the 9-8 victory secure. It was just the second win in 15 games for Philadelphia, which led by four runs entering the final inning.

Chase Utley went 3-for-4, drove in two runs and scored twice for the Phillies. Darin Ruf and Carlos Ruiz homered, and Ruf and Domonic Brown had two RBIs apiece. Brown was activated earlier in the day from the disabled list.

Papelbon has taken heat from the fans since he told reporters on the last road trip that he "definitely didn't come here" for the kind of season the Phillies are having. His performance has also slipped. He had blown six of his previous 13 save opportunities, after converting his first 13 of the season.

On Tuesday he entered in a non-save situation, as the lead was 9-5. He also entered to a chorus of boos.

The catcalls only grew louder when Papelbon allowed a single to Logan Watkins and a double to David DeJesus, the first two hitters he faced in the ninth. He struck out the next two hitters, but Nate Schierholtz, who went 3-for-5, singled through the middle to score both runners.

Brown then dropped Starlin Castro's fly ball to left field, and Schierholtz came around to score, making it 9-8. After a wild pitch and a walk put runners at first and third, Papelbon retired Neal.

Papelbon did not address reporters after the game.

Manuel said he did not think the boos were affecting his closer.

"I'm sure he's been booed before," he said. "I don't think he hears too much of that."

Brown, for his part, thought he could have made life easier for Papelbon.

"I'm supposed to catch that every time - nine out of 10, or whatever," he said.

Donnie Murphy and Anthony Rizzo homered for the Cubs, who have dropped five straight and eight of nine.

"We finally scored some runs," said Chicago manager Dale Sveum, whose team had been shut out in its two previous games, "but if you give up nine, you're not going to win many games."

Philadelphia starter Kyle Kendrick (10-8) allowed four runs in the second and another in the third but then settled down, retiring 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced to end a two-game losing streak. Four of the five runs he surrendered were earned. He gave up six hits, struck out four and didn't issue a walk.

Jake Diekman and Justin De Fratus combined for two scoreless innings of relief.

Edwin Jackson (7-12), who was unable to hold a 5-2 lead, surrendered seven runs and 10 hits over five innings to take the loss. He fanned two and walked two.

"I tried to grind it out, but it was just one of those days," he said. "Any time you get that much of a lead and don't hold it, it's tough to take."

Utley drove in a first-inning run for the Phillies with a single, but Murphy hit a three-run homer in a four-run second.

Kendrick's RBI single in the bottom of the second cut the Philadelphia deficit to 4-2, but Rizzo blasted a solo homer in the third.

The Phillies then scored twice in their half of the third on Brown's groundout and Ruf's double to make it 5-4.

Utley tripled in a run in the fifth and then scored on Brown's bouncer to put the Phils in front. Ruf followed with a homer, making it 7-5.

The Phillies increased their lead to 9-5 on Michael Young's RBI double in the sixth and Ruiz's solo homer in the eighth.

NOTES: Ruf extended to 33 his streak of games in which he has reached safely via hit, walk or hit by pitch. It is the longest active streak in the majors and the longest by a Phillie since Utley also reached in 33 straight spanning the 2008 and '09 seasons. The club record is 56 by Mike Schmidt. ... Ruf also made his first career start in right field. ... Earlier in the day, the Phillies recalled LHP Cesar Jimenez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the roster spot vacated when LHP Antonio Bastardo was suspended 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy. ... The Phillies also activated Brown, who had been out since July 23 with concussion-like symptoms, and designated OF/1B Laynce Nix for assignment.