Phillies outlast Giants, 4-3, in 12 innings

Citizens Bank Park was half empty when the Phillies finally won Sunday, probably because these fans too often have seen games like this one evolve into a horror show. The nightmare fuel is a tie game, an open bullpen door, and extra innings.

So there was satisfaction in the Phillies clubhouse after a 4-3, 12-inning victory over San Francisco - no matter how close to irrelevance the team stands.

Above the field, where general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and his lieutenants sit, the same feeling likely existed for far different reasons. Sure, the organization is clinging to a faint hope of contending, but reality is that trades are coming and they are coming quite soon. The front office will field offers from teams willing to pick at the carcass that is the Phillies, and Joe Blanton's name is sure to arise.

Blanton tossed eight innings and was victimized twice by Nate Schierholtz home runs, but he still handed a tie game to a beleaguered bullpen that, for once, did not break. Antonio Bastardo, Jeremy Horst, and Kyle Kendrick combined for four innings of scoreless relief.

Jimmy Rollins delivered the winning single in the 12th off Brad Penny, long removed from his days of effectiveness in the majors, after a walk by Carlos Ruiz and single by Laynce Nix put runners on the corners. To help earlier, John Mayberry Jr. whacked two fat Barry Zito pitches for solo home runs.

This victory snapped a seven-game losing streak at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies have the worst home record in the National League.

"It feels good to win," Blanton said.

Outings like Sunday's provide hope that the Phillies can dump the remaining $3 million or so of Blanton's contract on another team to help avoid paying the luxury tax in 2012. If they accomplish that, spending more in 2013 is plausible. Blanton, the human trade rumor, says he has not pondered the possibility of pitching elsewhere.

"It's something I'm kind of used to," Blanton said. "I got used to it in Oakland. Oakland's an organization that trades players a lot, so I've been used to it my whole career. It doesn't affect me one way or another. I don't really pay attention to it anymore."

Numerous teams had scouts at the game, including the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees. Blanton has been burned by the long ball, but he could remain an attractive option for a contending team. He leads the National League with a stellar 6.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has averaged 62/3 innings per start and pitched six or more innings in each of his last nine starts. He easily could provide an upgrade to the back of many teams' rotations.

"He pitched real good," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He had a low pitch count most of the game. We probably got the most out of him."

Three pitches into the game, Schierholtz smoked a 2-0 sinker to right, and groans filled the ballpark. A whopping 17 of the 22 home runs Blanton has allowed have been solo shots - thanks in part to the low walk rate - so the damage could be worse. His season ERA is 4.70.

Blanton was one batter away from carrying a Phillies lead into the ninth inning. He hung a 2-1 change-up to Schierholtz, who tied it with one swing.

Even without closer Jonathan Papelbon, who was unavailable after a 36-pitch outing Saturday, the bullpen held. Bastardo, a source of great consternation in 2012, struck out the side in the ninth.

The Phillies believe that Bastardo has turned the corner - not the first time that has been said this season.

"He's definitely going to get over that," Manuel said. "I think he's kind of close to getting over that. He shows you he's still got it."

Kendrick earned the win and extended a career-best scoreless streak to 182/3 innings with 21/3 innings of spotless relief Sunday. But it was Blanton's performance that stuck, only because it could go a longer way than one victory in a lost season - especially if another team noticed.