Papelbon blows save, Phillies fall in 14
Jul 21, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) hits the ball in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Giants won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jonathan Papelbon allowed his first home run of the season in the ninth inning, missed a chance at tying Rich Gossage on the all-time saves list on one swing of Buster Posey‘s bat and the Phillies lost 9-6 in 14 innings to the San Francisco Giants.
A Phillies win was two outs away when Papelbon gave up a solo shot to Posey. It was the second blown lead of the game for Philadelphia.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, but the Giants came out swinging and had 18 hits. Pablo Sandoval doubled in Hunter Pence in the top of the first to give San Fransisco an early 1-0 lead. The Phillies answered in the next half inning when Chase Utley and Marlon Byrd drove in one run apiece, making it 2-1.
Gregor Blanco walked to lead off the San Francisco second, stole a base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Cameron Rupp. He scored as Brandon Crawford grounded into a fielder’s choice.
Pence continued terrorizing his former team by hitting a solo home run to center and giving the Giants a 3-2 lead in the fifth.
Giants starter Yusmeiro Petit blew the lead in his final inning of work. The Phillies retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth after Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer and Byrd drove in Ryan Howard, making it 5-3.
The Giants crept back in the seventh with one run, but the Phillies handed the ball to Papelbon to close the game out. He stayed in the game after the it was tied and pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the tenth.
Philadelphia used six arms out of the bullpen once starter Roberto Hernandez came out after 5.2 innings and the Giants finally got to one of them. Jeff Manship allowed four runs on five hits in the top of the 14th making it 9-5.
A run was plated for the Phillies when Howard scored off a Cody Asche groundout and made it 9-6, but despite having the bases loaded the score was settled on the 507th pitch of the night. Philadelphia left 15 runners on base.
The game lasted 5 hours and 46 minutes.
Antonio Bastardo came on in relief for the second game in a row, this time just to record one out.
Grady Sizemore went 0-for-3 with a strike out, making it the first time he hasn’t reached based in a Phillies uniform.