Philadelphia, PA – Domonic Brown's single to right in the bottom of the ninth inning plated Michael Young as the Philadelphia Phillies won in their final at-bat for the second straight night, 5-4, to take three of four from the Colorado Rockies.
The Phillies trailed 4-3 entering the final frame and were one out from a series split after Rafael Betancourt (2-5) retired the first two batters he faced. Jimmy Rollins kept the home team alive with a double down the first base line then stole third, which allowed him to score on Young's dribbler past the pitcher's mound.
Jeff Francis relieved Betancourt but walked Chase Utley and hung a breaking ball to Brown, who connected for his second walk-off hit of the season.
Carlos Ruiz picked up three hits in the winning effort while Darin Ruf launched his ninth home run of the season. Kyle Kendrick was tagged for all four runs on eight hits in five-plus innings, and Cesar Jimenez (1-0) earned his second career win after tossing a perfect ninth.
"I think there's a sense that good things can happen with the positive energy and the guys pulling for each other," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "The guys are having quality at-bats and rising to the occasion."
Wilin Rosario went deep for Colorado while Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Cuddyer tallied two hits apiece.
Chad Bettis yielded a run on six hits and fanned five for Colorado, which lost for the fifth time in six games.
Cody Asche put Philadelphia on the board with a poke double to left in the second inning, plating Brown who singled and advanced to third on a wild pitch earlier in the inning. Bettis responded by striking out three batters.
Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu smacked consecutive singles to start the fifth inning. Bettis advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Dexter Fowler tied the game with a sac fly to left.
Kendrick allowed back-to-back hits to open the sixth inning as well, as Tulowitzki and Cuddyer each reached on singles to left-center. Rosario made the Phillies' hurler pay by unleashing his three-run blast into the bleachers in left field, giving Colorado a 4-1 advantage.
The Phillies put two men on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to cut into the lead until the eighth inning, when Ruf took Matt Belisle deep for a two-run shot.
Game Notes
Rosario extended his major league-leading hitting streak to 13 games ... Fowler went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts ... The Phillies have won four of five after dropping their previous four ... Four Phillies relievers combined for four scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit and no walks ... Betancourt left the game with a sprained right elbow. He'll be reevaluated Friday.
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