The Phils go onto the road with their first three-game winning streak as they win both of their games against the Astros, winning yesterday’s ballgame behind Joe Blanton’s excellent pitching, 5-1, before taking this afternoon’s game in extra-innings on Hunter Pence’s walk-off home run, defeating the Astros, 4-3.

In Monday night’s game, the Phils took the lead in the fifth as, with two men on, and with one man out, Freddy Galvis hits an RBI single, knocking in Placido Polanco, who was earlier safe at first on a 1-6 force out, as Carlos Ruiz, who had started off the inning by being hit by the pitch, is wiped out at second base for the inning’s first out, then reaching second base on shortstop Jed Lowrie’s force attempt fielding error on John Mayberry Jr’s grounder, giving the Phils a 1-0 lead, while sending Mayberry, who had been safe at first on Lowrie’s error, over to third. The Phils then took a 2-0 lead in the sixth as, with a man on third, and with one man out, Ruiz hits an RBI single, knocking in Shane Victorino, who had earlier started the inning off with a triple. Three batters later, after Polanco had hit into a 6-3 force out, wiping out Ruiz at second base for the inning’s second out, then going to third base on Mayberry’s double, and now with two men out, Galvis hits an RBI single, scoring Polanco, giving the Phils a 3-0 lead, before Mayberry, who had just doubled, is thrown out at the plate trying to score, 7-2, for the inning’s final out. The Astros would get a run back in the eighth as Marwin Gonzalez hits a solo home run, his first home run of the season, making it a 3-1 Phils’ lead. The Phils increased their lead in their half of the eighth as, with one man on, and with two men out, Polanco hits a two-run home run, his first home run of the year, and the 2000th hit of his career, as he knocked in Ruiz, who had just singled, giving the Phils a 5-1 lead. That would end up being the final score as Jonathan Papelbon threw a scoreless ninth, getting Chris Snyder to strikeout, swinging, for the game’s final out.

Joe Blanton (4-3, 2.96) got the win as he went seven strong innings, plus two batters, giving up a run on six hits and a walk, while he struck out seven. Antonio Bastardo collected his seventh hold of the season as he pitched two-thirds of an inning, striking out two batters. Chad Qualls collected his seventh hold of the season as he went a third of an inning, getting out the only man that he would face. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, while striking out the side. Lucas Harrell (2-3, 4.40) took the lost as he went five and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out three. Wilton Lopez pitched a third of an inning, giving up a hit. Fernando Abad pitched a scoreless inning, striking out a batter. David Carpenter pitched an inning, giving up two runs on four hits, as he struck out two.

The Phils had ten hits in the game, with Freddy Galvis leading the team with three hits, all singles, as he knocked in two runs, followed by Carlos Ruiz (Singles, RBI) and John Mayberry, Jr. (Single, Double) with two hits apiece. Shane Victorino (Triple), Hunter Pence (Single) and Placido Polanco (Home Run, 2 RBIs), had the other three Phils’ hits, with Polanco’s hit being his 2000th career hit. The Phils also had two walks in the game.

In this afternoon’s game, the Phils took the lead in the second as, with one man on, and with two men out, Brian Schneider hits a two-run home run, his first home run of the year, knocking in John Mayberry, Jr. who had earlier reached base on second baseman Jose Altuve’s throwing error, giving the Phils a 2-0 lead. The Phils added to their lead in the sixth as, with one man out, Hunter Pence hits a solo home run, his eighth home run of the season, giving the Phils a 3-0 lead. The Astros would get a run back in the seventh as Matt Downs hits a lead-off home run, his third home run of the year, making it a 3-1 Phils’ lead. The Astros made it a 3-2 Phils’ lead in the ninth as, with a man on third, and with one man out, Carlos Lee hits an RBI single, scoring Jordan Schafer, who had started the inning off with a double, then went to third on Downs’ ground out, 4-3. The Astros then tied the score up at three-all two batters later, after pinch runner Brian Bogusevic, who was pinch running for Lee, had stolen second base, and now with two men out, J. D. Martinez hits a single to right, moving Bogusevic up to third, before being sent home as right fielder Pence committed a fielding error as he was trying to pick up the ball. The Phils would win the ballgame in the tenth as, win one man out, Pence hits a walk-off solo home run, his ninth home run of the season, and his second home run of the game, giving the Phils a 4-3 walk-off win.

Cliff Lee received a no-decision as he pitched eight strong innings, giving up a run on five hits and a walk, while striking out ten. Chad Qualls blew his fourth save attempt of the year as he threw two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs on four hits. Jake Diekman, who was making his major league debut, received the win, (1-0, 0.00), the first win of his career, as he threw one and one-thirds scoreless innings, while striking out three. Jordan Lyles also received a no-decision as he went six innings, giving up three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits and a walk, while he struck out four. Fernando Abad, Fernando Rodriguez and Brandon Lyon combined for three scoreless innings, giving up three hits (Abad (1), Lyon (2)) between them, while striking out two batters (Abad (1), Lyon (1)). Brett Myers (0-1, 2.08) took the lost as he pitched a third of an inning, giving up a run on a hit.

The Phils had ten hits in the game, with Hunter Pence leading the team with three hits (Single, 2 Home Runs, 2 RBIs), including the game winner, followed by Jimmy Rollins (Single, Double), Placido Polanco (Singles) and Brian Schneider (Single, Home Run, 2 RBIs) with two hits apiece. John Mayberry, Jr. (Single) had the other Phil hit. The Phils also had two walks in the game.

The Phils (18-19, 5th East), who have now won four of their last five games, and have their first three-game winning streak, will now go onto the road for a short two-game series with the Cubs (15-21, T-5th Central). The game will be played at Wrigley Field and will start at 8:05 pm EDT (7:05 pm Central). The Phils will send to the mound Kyle Kendrick (0-3, 7.32), who is pitching in place of Vance Worley, who is not making the trip because of a sore elbow. Kendrick last pitched on May 9 against the Mets in relief, pitching an inning plus, giving up five runs on four hits and two walks, in the Phils’ 10-6 loss. Kendrick will be trying to bounce back from that bad appearance. The Cubs will counter with Matt Garza (2-1, 2.56), who is coming off a no-decision against the Brewers on May 11, as he went five innings, giving up a run on three hits and five walks, while striking out three, in the Cubs’ 8-7 lost. He will be out to gain his second win against the Phils this season. The Phils will be going out to win their fourth game in a row.