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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 2, 2010

Victorino hits grand slam, Philies rout Mets


DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — Shane Victorino hit a grand slam off Johan Santana and Chase Utley had a two-run shot during Philadelphia's nine-run fourth inning, helping the Phillies pound the New York Mets 11-5 tonight.

Santana (3-2) allowed a career-worst 10 runs in 3 2-3 innings. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner allowed four homers - and one crucial bases-loaded walk.

Holding a 5-3 lead in the fourth, Santana issued a two-out walk to Phillies starter Jamie Moyer. Victorino followed with the grand slam and Utley went deep two batters later. Nine straight batters reached in the inning.

Placido Polanco and Ryan Howard also homered for the Phillies, who won two of three against New York.

David Wright hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Rod Barajas added a two-run shot in the fourth but Moyer (3-2) survived the shaky start to last six innings. He also worked the count and had one of the best at-bats of the season for the Phi llies.

Raul Ibanez hit a two-out RBI single, Juan Castro singled and Carlos Ruiz walked before Moyer came to the plate in the fourth. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel decided to leave his starter in instead of calling for a pinch hitter.

Smart move.

Santana, who had walked only nine batters in his first five starts, fell behind 2-0 to his counterpart. When the count hit 3-1, the 51st straight sellout crowd stood and erupted in wild cheers like it was any of the last three Octobers in Philadelphia.

Moyer fouled a pitch, and the seventh-largest crowd in park history was going wild.

Pitching from the windup, Santana threw a fastball inside that sent Moyer to first and cut the lead to 5-4.

Four balls to the pitcher made all the difference.

Victorino made Santana pay with his second career grand slam - shades of Game 2 of the 2008 NL division series when Victorino hit a grand slam after pitcher Brett Myers worked a walk against Milwaukee's CC Sabathia.