Cubs' winning streak snapped with 5-4 loss in Philly

Posted May 20, 2010 11:00 pm

PHILADELPHIA -- Jose Contreras is learning the last three outs are the hardest to get.

Raul Ibanez hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning, Contreras pitched out of a jam in the ninth and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Thursday.

Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer and Chase Utley also went deep for the NL East-leading Phillies, who snapped a two-game losing streak in which they scored a total of two runs.

Kosuke Fukudome hit a tying solo shot in the eighth, and Derrek Lee also connected for Chicago, which had won four in a row.

Danys Baez (2-1) retired all three batters he faced to earn the win, before Contreras worked out of trouble in the ninth for his second save in two tries. The 38-year-old Contreras, a starter most of his career, is filling in as the closer with Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson on the disabled list.

"At the beginning, I thought it was only one inning. Now I know how tough it is," Contreras said through his translator, Baez.

Alfonso Soriano started the ninth by getting hit on the 11th pitch he saw from Contreras. Soriano advanced to third on Mike Fontenot's single to center, but Contreras struck out Starlin Castro and pinch-hitter Aramis Ramirez. Fontenot stole second as Ramirez went down swinging on a pitch down and way outside, but Geovany Soto fouled out to first baseman Ryan Howard to end it.

"He's got good stuff, he's not afraid to pitch, and he has everything you need to be a good closer," Baez said of his good friend.

Cubs left-hander John Grabow (0-3) entered with one out in the eighth and walked Utley. He retired Howard before walking Rollins, and Ibanez lined a single to right that allowed Utley to slide in ahead of Fukudome's off-target throw.

Ibanez stood at first base, listening to the familiar chants of "Ra-uuuuuuul!" Ibanez became an instant fan favorite in his first season in Philadelphia last year. The All-Star left fielder has struggled this season, batting just .246 with three homers and 19 RBIs.

"That was a huge hit," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "Raul's been a slow starter. He told me, 'Charlie, I can work my way out of it.' I believe him. He's coming around."

Phillies starter Joe Blanton allowed three runs and five hits. He retired the first 11 batters and didn't allow a hit until Soriano doubled down the left-field line leading off the fifth.

Cubs starter Ryan Dempster gave up four runs and five hits in six innings. His biggest mistake was a 3-0 pitch that Rollins crushed into the seats in right, giving the Phillies a 4-1 lead in the sixth. Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP, returned from the disabled list Monday after missing 29 games with a calf injury.

"He's a guy who will swing 3-0," Dempster said. "That's not where you'd like to throw it. I wasn't challenging him, not trying to groove a pitch. I should have thrown it in the dirt. You've got to make a better pitch."

Lee led off the seventh with a solo shot to left. The Cubs then loaded the bases on a walk and singles by Fontenot and Castro. Pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin's sacrifice fly cut it to 4-3, but Blanton escaped further damage by retiring pinch-hitter Xavier Nady on a pop-up.

Fukudome's drive off reliever Antonio Bastardo leading off the eighth tied it at 4.

Utley put the Phillies ahead 1-0 when he ripped a liner the right-field seats in the first. Seven of Utley's 10 homers have been solo shots.

One pitch before Soriano doubled in the fifth, he hit a foul pop that first baseman Howard lost in the sun. Castro's one-out single to right scored Soriano to tie it at 1.

Notes: Rollins batted fifth behind Howard, the third different spot he's hit since returning from the DL on Monday. Rollins, the team's usual leadoff hitter, batted third twice and sixth once. ... Philadelphia starters are 12-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 18 games this month. ... After making errors in seven straight games, the Cubs have just one in the last seven games. ... A crowd of 45,325 was the 62nd straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park.

Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez leaps to catch a deep fly out by Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee in the sixth. Associated Press

Cubs game tracker

The good: Kosuke Fukudome hit a tying solo homer in the eighth inning, Derek Lee also homered and Starlin Castro was 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

The bad: Aramis Ramirez struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning on a pitch so low and outside it was nearly a wild pitch as the Cubs had the tying run at third with one out but couldn't score. John Grabow (8.44 ERA) walked two and allowed a hit in yielding an earned run in two-thirds of an inning.

Remember him? The Phillies' Jose Contreras struggled in the ninth inning but earned his second save in as many chances.

Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark

TV: Comcast SportsNet Friday; Channel 32 (Fox) Saturday; Channel 9 Sunday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Ted Lilly (1-3) vs. Colby Lewis (3-2) Friday at 7:05 p.m.; Randy Wells (3-2) vs. Derek Holland (2-0) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; Carlos Silva (5-0) vs. C.J. Wilson (3-1) Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

At a glance: This is the Cubs' first foray into interleague play and their first trip to Arlington, Texas, since 2007. The Cubs are 2-4 against the Rangers all time and 1-2 in Texas. The Cubs were 6-9 vs. the AL last year and are 90-97 all time. Holland and Wilson are lefties, so Xavier Nady could see time as DH for the Cubs in those two games. The Rangers entered Thursday with a 3-game lead over Oakland in the AL West. Vladimir Guerrero was batting .340 with 8 homers and 33 RBI. Josh Hamilton also had 8 homers, and Nelson Cruz entered Thursday with an OPS of 1.065. As a team, the Rangers were fifth in the AL in ERA, at 4.05.

Next: Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field, Tuesday-Thursday

- Bruce Miles

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