Astros 4, Phillies 2
Chris Johnson’s RBI single broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the difference as the Houston Astros outlasted the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in a 16-inning marathon Tuesday.
The game lasted more than four-and-a-half hours and saw 15 different pitchers take the mound.
Houston opened the scoring with a two-run homer by Carlos Lee in the fourth inning. The Astros then went 12 straight scoreless innings, keeping off the scoreboard until their two runs in the 16th.
Philadelphia cut the lead to 2-1 in the sixth on an RBI double by Raul Ibanez and trailed 2-1 heading into the ninth, but Jimmy Rollins sent the game into extra innings with a solo home run off of Wilton Lopez.
Jeff Fulchino (1-0) earned the victory with two scoreless innings, while David Herndon (1-3) pitched three innings, but allowed the final two runs to suffer the loss.
Philadelphia had the tying run on base in the bottom of the 16th, but pitcher Roy Oswalt - who was forced to play two innings in left field after Ryan Howard was ejected and the Phillies had no position players remaining - grounded out to third to end the game.
Houston starter Bud Norris allowed one run on five hits in six innings, while Cole Hamels allowed two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings as Philadelphia's starter.