June 28, 2007, 1:22AM
Phils' Howard reaches 100 HRs in record 325th game
Record shot's a doozy, too, clearing wall in center at 505 feet
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — David Weathers pitched out of a jam and through a rain delay to earn an old-school save. Javier Valentin hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning, Adam Dunn added a two-run homer and Weathers got the final six outs in Cincinnati's 9-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.
"It's his eighth save of more than one inning," Reds manager Jerry Narron said of Weathers. "He's like Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage."
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard hit his 100th career homer in his 325th game, becoming the fastest player to reach that total in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Philadelphia had the tying run on third base after Greg Dobbs tripled off the top of the right-field wall with two outs in the eighth inning, before a 42-minute rain delay.
When play resumed, Weathers struck out Howard looking after he walked Chase Utley. He then pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances. Marcus McBeth (2-1) got two outs in the seventh.
"I felt better after the delay," Weathers said. "You have to keep your thoughts on what you want to do and not just relax in the clubhouse."
Dunn connected for his 22nd homer off Jose Mesa in the ninth to give the Reds a three-run lead.
Jamie Moyer didn't allow a hit until Josh Hamilton lined a single to center with two outs in the sixth. But the 44-year-old left-hander couldn't get past the seventh. The Reds scored three runs off Moyer and three more against reliever Geoff Geary to take a 6-3 lead.
After the Phillies tied it in the bottom half, the Reds answered in the eighth against Brian Sanches (1-1). Edwin Encarnacion was hit on an 0-2 pitch leading off the inning and advanced on Alex Gonzalez's sacrifice. Valentin then ripped a double to right to put the Reds ahead for good.
Howard's three-run shot off Aaron Harang gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. The 505-foot drive was the longest in the four-year history of Citizens Bank Park. It cleared the tall, brick batter's eye, going nine feet farther than Howard's shot over the same wall against Florida's Sergio Mitre last April.
Ralph Kiner had been the fastest player to reach 100 homers, doing it in 385 games for Pittsburgh in the late 1940s.
"He has all the power in the world," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He definitely smoked that ball. The fact he has so many homers in that short period of time shows the kind of ability he has."
Moyer allowed three runs and three hits in six-plus innings. He had a season-high eight strikeouts, but two of the three batters he walked scored.
Harang gave up five runs and eight hits in six-plus innings.
Moyer left after loading the bases with no outs in the seventh. Geary entered and nearly allowed a grand slam. Gonzalez's opposite-field drive hit high off the fence in right-center for a two-run double.
Pinch-hitter Valentin followed with an RBI single to tie it at 3. Harang sacrificed for the first out and Hamilton was intentionally walked to load the bases again. Brandon Phillips singled up the middle to give Cincinnati a 4-3 lead and chase Geary.
Mike Zagurski came in to face Ken Griffey Jr., who looped a two-run single to left to put the Reds ahead 6-3.
"I try to stay away from judging how guys are doing," Moyer said. "I know everybody is giving a good effort. Sometimes it's enough and sometimes it isn't."
Harang couldn't get an out with a three-run cushion. Jimmy Rollins singled leading off the bottom of the seventh and scored on Dobbs' double.
Jon Coutlangus came in, threw a wild pitch to put Dobbs on third and walked Utley before he struck out Howard for the first out. McBeth entered to face Aaron Rowand. His first pitch crossed up catcher Valentin and hit plate umpire Jeff Kellogg before bouncing away for a passed ball. Dobbs scored and Utley, who was running on the pitch, went to third.
Rowand then singled past a drawn-in infield to tie it at 6.
Howard appeared to miss the sign for a suicide squeeze when Abraham Nunez put down a perfect bunt with runners on first and third in the second inning. Howard stayed at third while Shane Victorino, who was stealing on the pitch, advanced to second.
Phils' Howard reaches 100 HRs in record 325th game
Record shot's a doozy, too, clearing wall in center at 505 feet
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — David Weathers pitched out of a jam and through a rain delay to earn an old-school save. Javier Valentin hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning, Adam Dunn added a two-run homer and Weathers got the final six outs in Cincinnati's 9-6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night.
"It's his eighth save of more than one inning," Reds manager Jerry Narron said of Weathers. "He's like Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage."
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard hit his 100th career homer in his 325th game, becoming the fastest player to reach that total in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Philadelphia had the tying run on third base after Greg Dobbs tripled off the top of the right-field wall with two outs in the eighth inning, before a 42-minute rain delay.
When play resumed, Weathers struck out Howard looking after he walked Chase Utley. He then pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances. Marcus McBeth (2-1) got two outs in the seventh.
"I felt better after the delay," Weathers said. "You have to keep your thoughts on what you want to do and not just relax in the clubhouse."
Dunn connected for his 22nd homer off Jose Mesa in the ninth to give the Reds a three-run lead.
Jamie Moyer didn't allow a hit until Josh Hamilton lined a single to center with two outs in the sixth. But the 44-year-old left-hander couldn't get past the seventh. The Reds scored three runs off Moyer and three more against reliever Geoff Geary to take a 6-3 lead.
After the Phillies tied it in the bottom half, the Reds answered in the eighth against Brian Sanches (1-1). Edwin Encarnacion was hit on an 0-2 pitch leading off the inning and advanced on Alex Gonzalez's sacrifice. Valentin then ripped a double to right to put the Reds ahead for good.
Howard's three-run shot off Aaron Harang gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. The 505-foot drive was the longest in the four-year history of Citizens Bank Park. It cleared the tall, brick batter's eye, going nine feet farther than Howard's shot over the same wall against Florida's Sergio Mitre last April.
Ralph Kiner had been the fastest player to reach 100 homers, doing it in 385 games for Pittsburgh in the late 1940s.
"He has all the power in the world," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He definitely smoked that ball. The fact he has so many homers in that short period of time shows the kind of ability he has."
Moyer allowed three runs and three hits in six-plus innings. He had a season-high eight strikeouts, but two of the three batters he walked scored.
Harang gave up five runs and eight hits in six-plus innings.
Moyer left after loading the bases with no outs in the seventh. Geary entered and nearly allowed a grand slam. Gonzalez's opposite-field drive hit high off the fence in right-center for a two-run double.
Pinch-hitter Valentin followed with an RBI single to tie it at 3. Harang sacrificed for the first out and Hamilton was intentionally walked to load the bases again. Brandon Phillips singled up the middle to give Cincinnati a 4-3 lead and chase Geary.
Mike Zagurski came in to face Ken Griffey Jr., who looped a two-run single to left to put the Reds ahead 6-3.
"I try to stay away from judging how guys are doing," Moyer said. "I know everybody is giving a good effort. Sometimes it's enough and sometimes it isn't."
Harang couldn't get an out with a three-run cushion. Jimmy Rollins singled leading off the bottom of the seventh and scored on Dobbs' double.
Jon Coutlangus came in, threw a wild pitch to put Dobbs on third and walked Utley before he struck out Howard for the first out. McBeth entered to face Aaron Rowand. His first pitch crossed up catcher Valentin and hit plate umpire Jeff Kellogg before bouncing away for a passed ball. Dobbs scored and Utley, who was running on the pitch, went to third.
Rowand then singled past a drawn-in infield to tie it at 6.
Howard appeared to miss the sign for a suicide squeeze when Abraham Nunez put down a perfect bunt with runners on first and third in the second inning. Howard stayed at third while Shane Victorino, who was stealing on the pitch, advanced to second.
