Inside The Playbook

Skies Clear for Phillies in Clearwater

By: Lily Zhao

(ESPN.com)

One big hit made Luis Montanez a big hit.

Montanez's walk off home run in the tenth inning helped redeem the Philadelphia Phillies 10-3 loss to the Houston Astros yesterday.

The Phillies would go on to win 5-4, fending off a late comeback by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Montanez would end the game with 1 HR and 4 RBIs.

Earlier in the game, the Phillies led 4-0 at the bottom of the fifth inning. Third baseman Placido Polanco would hit a single on a ground ball and score on the next play, as center fielder Shane Victorino homered on the fly ball to right field.

It looked as if the Phillies had the game in control. However, Pittsburgh's bats came alive at the top of the sixth, when Phillies manager Charlie Manuel pulled most of the his starters out of the game.

Casey McGehee's single would allow Josh Harrison to score the first run of the game for the Pirates. harrison, McGehee and Rod Barajas had three consecutive hits off Phillies right-hander Dave Bush. McGehee and Brock Holt would both score, bringing the Pirates within one run 4-3.

Aside from Starling Marte's homer at the top of the eighth, the Pirates could not muster enough offense the rest of the game to complete the comeback.

Both teams will face off again March 12 at McKechnie Field.