Blanton, Phils go down swinging

With their backs almost in a corner, the Phillies came out swinging like Rocky Balboa. But the Giants weren’t going to let Rocky win this fight.

Desperate to win Game 4, Charlie Manuel rolled the dice and brought in Roy Oswalt out of the bullpen, on two days rest. Aubrey Huff hit a one-out single to right followed by another opposite field hit by Buster Posey to put runners at the corners. Then, Juan Uribe came through with a sacrifice fly in the ninth as the Giants beat the Phillies, 6-5, to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NLCS.

Roy Halladay takes the mound tonight against Tim Lincecum in Game 5, as the Phillies look to avoid a sweep in San Francisco.

Last night’s game was a tide of emotions for the Phillies. Jayson Werth hit a double in the top of the eighth to tie it against Giants reliever Sergio Romo. The right fielder also saved a run with a spectacular defensive play to save a run in the ninth. But Werth only prolonged the agony. In the bottom of the ninth, Uribe’s sac fly scored Huff to end it.

But the story of Game 4 was Posey. The rookie catcher went 4-for-5, including an RBI single in the first inning and a booming, run-scoring double in the third. In the fifth, the Phillies got on the board. After singles by Ben Francisco and Carlos Ruiz, Joe Blanton sacrified to put runners at second and third. Shane Victorino singled to center.

Francisco scored, but Ruiz was thrown out at the plate by Aaron Rowand.