Hitless in his previous 11 at-bats, you might have wondered if Erik Kratz was starting a regression to something resembling normalcy. But there has been nothing normal about this 2012 season, and you can add everything about Sunday's 8-7 win over the Cardinals to the list, starting with Kratz's game-tying three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth end ending with Juan Pierre's walk-off infield single with two out in the bottom of the 11th.
When Kratz stepped to the plate for the bottom of the eighth, the Phillies had produced almost as many fielding errors (three) as they had runs (four). But the journeyman catcher changed that with one swing of the bat, taking Mitchell Boggs deep for his fifth home run in his first 44 at-bats of the season.
Ryan Howard had tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning with his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot off of right-hander Lance Lynn. That followed a first inning the featured another loud hit, this one a two-run triple to the left-center gap by Chase Utley.
The Phillies did get a couple of breaks in the inning. Replays showed that Utley was out at third on his hit (he drew the throw by rounding second, then fooled third base umpire Doug Eddings with a slide to to the inside of the bag), while Howard's single barely snuck past a diving Daniel Descalso at second base.
Vance Worley pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, before turning things over to the bullpen.
Michael Schwimer allowed three runs in the top of the eighth as the Cardinals seized the 7-4 lead that Kratz would eliminate in the bottom of the frame.
The Phillies finally won it in the bottom of the 11th as Jimmy Rollins stole third base and Juan Pierre barely beat out a single to deep short stop.
The Phillies are now 52-62 on the season.
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