Win a slam dunk after Phillies rally
MIAMI - Shane Victorino hit his first career grand slam to highlight a seven-run rally in the ninth inning against closer Matt Lindstrom, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins, 7-3, last night.
The Marlins took a three-hitter into the ninth and were two outs from a 3-0 victory when pinch hitter Matt Stairs singled home the Phillies' first run. Lindstrom walked in a run before Victorino hit his second homer of the year on a 2-1 pitch.
Five pitches later, Chase Utley hit his fifth homer.
The rally cost Florida's Josh Johnson a victory. He allowed three hits in seven innings, struck out eight and lowered his ERA to 2.20.
"It's a deflating feeling, especially for the guys that worked so hard the whole game, to come in there and blow it," Lindstrom said. "This is going to be a test for me."
The Marlins still own the best record in the NL at 11-5, but they have lost four games in a row.
Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer with two out in the first off Brett Myers for Florida's only runs. The Phillies have given up at least one homer in all 15 games, extending a major league record to start the season.
Clay Condrey (3-0) pitched two innings, and Ryan Madson fanned the side in the ninth.
The Phillies had totaled five hits and one run over a 17-inning stretch when they snapped the slump against Lindstrom.
Jayson Werth doubled with one out, and after a walk, Stairs singled. Lou Marson walked to load the bases, and after a strikeout, Jimmy Rollins walked to force in a run.
Victorino then pulled a pitch into the right-field stands, and Lindstrom (1-1) was showered with boos. He gave up four hits and three runs in two-thirds of an inning, blowing a save for the second time in five chances, and his ERA rose from 1.50 to 9.45.
Uggla hit his third homer with two out in the first to end an 0-for-21 slump, the longest hitless streak of his career.
Poor baserunning by Hanley Ramirez and a questionable call on a forceout cost the Marlins a run or more in the fifth. Ramirez was slow out of the box on a potential leadoff triple and settled for a double, then was thrown out trying to steal third. The Marlins went on to load the bases with two out before second base umpire Jerry Lane called Cody Ross out on a forceout, although TV replays showed the runner beat the throw.
