Phillies' Raul Ibanez hit a solo homer

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Phillies' Raul Ibanez hit a solo homer

PHILADELPHIA -- Raul Ibanez took a mighty swing and the sweet sound of the crowd chanting "Rauuuuuuuuuuuuul" let him know where the ball was going.

Ibanez hit a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

"It's definitely a good feeling," Ibanez said of his sixth career game-winning homer. "You definitely don't try to do that. You try to look for a pitch to drive and when you do it, there's no better feeling as a player."

Roy Halladay pitched seven strong innings, Carlos Ruiz hit a tying homer and the Phillies increased their lead to 31/2 games over the Braves in the NL East. The victory was manager Charlie Manuel's 600th career win with the team.

Despite heavy rain throughout the day and a delay of 1 hour, 54 minutes at the start, the game was played straight through without any stoppage after the first pitch. The teams were set to start after a 90-minute delay, but the rain began falling harder and umpires instructed the grounds crew to put the tarp back on the field.

"I told them I was leery of starting the game and I didn't want to send my pitcher out there," Manuel said.

Ibanez ripped a 2-0 pitch from Scott Proctor (1-3) out to right to end it after Braves center fielder Jordan Schafer robbed Ryan Howard of extra bases leading off the inning with a diving catch on his drive to left-center.

"A 3-2 game, it might be the same tomorrow and Sunday," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

These teams battled for the NL East title last year, with the Phillies overcoming a seven-game deficit on July 22 to win their fourth consecutive division crown. The Braves were 4.5 games up at the All-Star break, and finished six games back, though they earned a wild-card berth.

Fittingly, in a matchup between teams with the two best ERAs in the majors, runs were scarce. Neither starter stuck around for a decision.

Halladay gave up two runs and six hits, striking out seven. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner hasn't lost since the Braves beat him on May 15.

Three Phillies relievers combined for three perfect innings. Michael Stutes pitched the eighth and Antonio Bastardo worked the ninth to run his scoreless innings streak to 16. The hard-throwing lefty has allowed one hit in 42 at-bats in that span.

Juan Perez (1-0) struck out the side on nine pitches in the 10th to earn his first career win.

Phillies' Raul Ibanez hit a solo homer

"I'm excited and pumped up about my first win," Perez said through a translator. "I worked hard to stay sharp mentally and I'm thankful for the opportunity."

Atlanta's Brandon Beachy allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings, striking out six. He remained winless in six career starts against Philadelphia.

The injury-riddled Phillies, already missing their three top closers, were without their two All-Star regulars. Third baseman Placido Polanco missed his fourth straight game with a back injury and center fielder Shane Victorino was placed on the disabled list earlier in the day because of a sprained thumb.

Philadelphia has relied on its stellar pitching this season and will send two more All-Stars to the mound this weekend. Cliff Lee (9-6) faces Tommy Hanson (10-4) on Saturday and Cole Hamels (10-4) goes against Derek Lowe (5-6) on Sunday.

Ruiz lined a solo homer to left to tie it at 2 in the fourth. The Phillies then put runners on second and third with two outs, but Beachy retired Jimmy Rollins on a fly to right.

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