Phils rally in ninth to edge Rockies
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A two-out rally in the ninth inning and a rare error by Todd Helton allowed the Phillies to upend the Rockies, 7-6, in the middle installment of a three-game series.
Colorado broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the ninth on Dexter Fowler's RBI single off Jonathan Papelbon. Rafael Betancourt retired the first two hitters in the bottom half, and the Rockies were on the brink of just their second win in 13 games.
But Ty Wigginton started Philadelphia's comeback with a single and was running on a 1-1 pitch to Hunter Pence, who doubled high off the wall in left field to score Wigginton without a play at the plate.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With first base open, the Rockies opted to walk Carlos Ruiz, and Shane Victorino beat out an infield single to short to load the bases. Placido Polanco followed with a similar ground ball up the middle, and this time Marco Scutaro appeared to nab the runner at first.
However, the three-time Gold Glove-winning Helton was off the bag as he received the throw, and by the time he reshuffled his feet, Polanco was called safe by first-base umpire Alfonso Marquez.
"We gave them five outs in the ninth inning," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Betancourt (1-3) was charged with his third blown save, while Papelbon (1-2) earned his first win of the year despite giving up the go-ahead run in the ninth.
Wilin Rosario hit a three-run homer, while Chris Nelson and Michael Cuddyer each added solo blasts off Phillies starter Joe Blanton.
Blanton allowed five runs on six hits over his seven-inning start for Philadelphia, which received a three-run homer from Michael Martinez.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Hopefully we take the momentum and keep it going," Polanco said. "We're going to try to turn everything around."
The Phillies struck in their first at-bat, as Juan Pierre tripled into the left-field corner and scored on a Pence groundout.
The big bats came out for both squads the next three innings.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rosario blasted a three-run shot to straightaway center in the second, only to have Martinez counter with a three-run blast of his own off Colorado starter Alex White in the bottom half.
Cuddyer tied it in the third with a line drive several rows up into the left- field seats, and Nelson followed suit an inning later with an opposite-field round-tripper.
Again things pulled even in the home half, as Jimmy Rollins' two-out blooper to right plated John Mayberry.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Blanton has allowed 16 home runs in his last eight starts. He served up one in his first six...The Phillies won two straight at home for the first time since a four-game streak from May 13-18...Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez went 2-for-4 after missing the previous two games with a strained hamstring...The Phillies are 21-4 against the Rockies since the start of the 2008 season...Jeremy Guthrie tossed three hitless innings in relief after White surrendered five runs on five hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings.