Phillies 4, Indians 3
PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Howard led off the bottom of the 11th with a home run, lifting the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
Howard’s homer, his fifth of the season, came on a 3-2 fastball from reliever Cody Allen (0-3) and propelled Philadelphia to its seventh victory in eight games. It was Howard’s sixth career walkoff homer, and his first since May 28, 2014, off Colorado’s Boone Logan.
It was also the Phillies’ third walkoff victory this season, all coming in the last two weeks.
Jason Kipnis hit a two-run homer for Cleveland, which lost for the third time in four games.
David Hernandez (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory, striking out four. In all five Philadelphia pitchers combined to strike out 18, equaling the team record.
Cleveland starter Corey Kluber, seeking to win his second straight start, instead settled for a no-decision, going seven innings and allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out six. He did not walk a batter.
Philadelphia starter Adam Morgan went five innings in his season debut and allowed three runs and five hits, while striking out a career-high seven and walking one. He was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley earlier in the day, and took the spot in the rotation previously occupied by Charlie Morton, who was lost for the season with a torn hamstring.
Kluber also ignited Cleveland's three-run fifth inning by lining a two-out double down the left-field line, just his second hit in 15 career at-bats and his first for extra bases. He scored when Rajai Davis singled to center, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
Kipnis then lofted Morgan's 1-2 slider into the seats in right center field for his third homer of the season, making it 3-0. Kipnis as a result stretched his own hitting streak to eight games.
The Phillies struck back in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back doubles by Howard and Carlos Ruiz produced a run. After an error by Indians first baseman Mike Napoli put runners at the corners, David Lough lined an RBI single. Philadelphia then tied the score at 3 when a run came home on a double-play bouncer off the bat of pinch-hitter Darin Ruf.
NOTES: The Phillies optioned RHP Luis Garcia to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room on the roster for LHP Adam Morgan. ... Philadelphia RHP Michael Mariot, who started the season on the 15-day disabled list with a right ankle strain, was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Class A Clearwater on Friday. ... Cleveland activated RHP Tommy Hunter (core muscle surgery) from the DL and designated LHP Ross Detwiler for assignment. ... Phillies manager Pete Mackanin batted his starting pitcher eighth for the eighth straight game. His team won six of the first seven games he elected to do that, averaging five runs a night in the process. The Phillies scored three runs or fewer in nine straight games before the move and 13 of their first 15 this season.