Ryan Howard takes a big cut but produces only a grounder in the eighth. He wound up reaching first on an error, then scored on Jayson Werth's home run.
- Phillies Zone: Charlie wants an infielder
- High Cheese: Game 2 lineups and more
- The Idle Rich: Phillies' bullpen machinations
- Gonzo: Win over Rockies a measure of sweet revenge
- Bob Ford: Cliff Lee savors precious moment
- Sam Donnellon: A second wind from Werth
- Bill Conlin: Phils weather elements with gusto
- Phil Sheridan: Just wind, baby: Phils take on elements
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- Rich Hofmann: Lee lets Phillies breathe a big Cy of relief
- You Talkin' To Me?: Shining a light on daytime baseball
- Broad Street Billy: In the stands, colorful fans, and gusts that’ll blow your beer away
- 1:30 p.m: Game 2 pregame chat with Marcus Hayes
- 2:30 p.m.: Rockies-Phillies Game 2 live chat
- The Phillies Zone: The Inquirer's Phillies blog
- High Cheese: The Daily News' Phillies blog
Photos: 2009 Phillies season- Download: Phillies wallpapers for your computer desktop
- From the archives: 2008 World Series coverage
- Philly.com's Phillies section
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- Card starter's been here; LA's just got here
- Yankees get jump on Twins
- Yankees follow Jeter to victory over Twins
- Both teams downplay Bosox' hold on Angels
- Cops: Ex-Phil Powell's death was suicide
- Throwing it back: Howard homer returned
- Fan gets Howard homer ball back
- Baseball Notes: 'Shame on us,' Tigers' Leyland says of his team's collapse
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- Buy Phillies jerseys, playoff t-shirts, hats, and more
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RELATED STORIES
Throwing it back: Howard homer returned
The family of a Florida girl, 12, sued over a milestone baseball.
The island of Manhattan for $24 worth of trinkets it was not, but a Florida family was crying foul over a deal the Phillies made with their daughter in exchange for a Ryan Howard home run baseball.
Contact staff writer Mike Jensen
And as is often the case these days, lawyers became involved.
The tale begins with Howard's 200th career home run July 17 in a game against the Florida Marlins. The ball sailed into the outfield seats at Land Shark Stadium, where it was picked up by a 12-year-old girl, Jennifer Valdivia.
That homer made Howard the player in Major League history who got to 200 the fastest - and the tale ends with Jennifer in possession of the ball again.
In between? Valdivia gave the ball up for Howard to keep - before her family hired an attorney, Norm Kent of Fort Lauderdale, Fla, who filed a lawsuit Monday against the Phillies and Howard for in "excess of $15,000."
The next day, Jennifer got the baseball back.
"I have it, finally," Jennifer told the Miami Herald after it was returned.
Kent said Valdivia was at the Phillies-Marlins game with her 15-year-old brother when Howard hit his home run. Valdivia grabbed it, and "within minutes" a Marlins employee escorted her and her brother to see an unidentified Phillies employee.
"In a classic bait-and-switch operation, the defendant Phillies tendered to young Jennifer a signed Ryan Howard baseball, which has a value on the memorabilia market of $150," the suit said, "as compared to the historic baseball, which is worth thousands."
She also got some cotton candy.
Kent said Valdivia also was told to come back after the game to meet Howard. However, the game went into extra innings, and she never did get to meet the Phillies slugger.
Kent said he quickly told Phillies attorneys he wanted the ball returned before the season ended or he would file suit. The initial counter offer, the suit said, was for tickets to a Phillies-Marlins game.
The regular season ended Sunday, then Kent filed suit Monday, which got the prompt response and the return of the ball. From the Phillies' end, spokesperson Bonnie Clark said yesterday that the team would have no comment.
"I'm starting to get some nasty e-mails that we're extorting Ryan Howard," Kent said. "I don't think Ryan Howard even knew what happened."
Despite the ball's value, the attorney said, "The ball is not on eBay. It's under her pillow."
Contact staff writer Mike Jensen
at 215-854-4489 or mjensen@phillynews.com
