The chants of "Freddy, Freddy, Freddy" came raining down late Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. They were for new Phillies hero Freddy Galvis.
Galvis, who started at third base, smacked a walk-off, solo home run in the ninth inning to beat the Reds, 3-2. The blast came moments after Erik Kratz tied it up with a solo shot of his own. Both home runs came of Reds fireballer Aroldis Chapman, who routinely flirts with 100 mph on the gun. They also came moments after a huge base-running gaffe by Cliff Lee — he was caught in a rundown after cheating too much off of first base — nearly cost them the game.
Don't look now, but the Phils have won seven of their last 12 games.
"We are fortunate to be where we're at," skipper Charlie Manuel said. "We've been in this situation 2-3 times, maybe more than that, since I've been here. It's not like we've always gotten off to great starts.
"It's like I said [Saturday], we have to keep going and try to improve and get our game together, and that's pitching and offense — and if you stop and think, that's what we've not been doing."
Jonathan Pettibone (3-0, 3.00 ERA) got the start and looked sharp again. He surrendered just two runs in seven innings. Chase Utley's RBI single in the eighth snapped a 16-inning scoreless streak.
Howard sits, sore knee
Ryan Howard, a player already mired in a slump, got the day off Sunday. After the game, Charlie Manuel revealed that the slugger has been dealing with a nagging left knee injury. He'll likely miss Monday night's game in Miami.
"He's got a sore knee right now, and he's had it off and on since spring training," Manuel said. "He gets it now and again. It's his left knee."
With Howard out, the Phillies started Michael Young at first base against Cincinnati. Infielder Freddy Galvis took over Young's usual spot at the hot corner. Manuel put no timetable on Howard's return, but the manager said he'd be "surprised" if Howard was back Monday.
Freddy Galvis is mobbed by teammates after smacking the game-winning home run.
