Brian Roberts’ 2-run homer in ninth leads Orioles over Phillies 6-5

Roberts’ 2-run homer leads O’s over Phillies 6-5

PHILADELPHIA — Brian Roberts hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth off fill-in closer Ryan Madson, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 Saturday night.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Howard gave the Phillies a 5-3 lead with a three-run homer in the seventh, hours after being hospitalized for flu symptoms. But Baltimore rallied against Madson (2-3), who has two blown saves and two losses this week in place of injured closer Brad Lidge.

The NL-East leading Phillies have lost a season-high five games and fell to 13-21 at home. The defending World Series champions are a major league-best 23-9 on the road.

Gregg Zaun hit a solo homer off Madson with one out in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Oscar Salazar singled with two outs and Roberts hit a 1-2 pitch into the seats in right.

Mark Hendrickson (2-4) pitched a scoreless eighth and George Sherrill finished for his 14th save in 16 chances.

Howard went to the hospital because he wasn’t feeling well after Friday night’s game. Manager Charlie Manuel said Howard’s temperature had reached 104 degrees, but the first baseman was released after midnight. Before the game, Manuel said Howard would be unavailable.

But with the Phillies trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Howard came up with two runners on and two outs. He drove reliever Danys Baez’s 1-1 pitch into Philadelphia’s bullpen in center. It was his fifth career homer as pinch-hitter, and Howard also extended his consecutive games streak to 343, longest in the majors.

The Phillies had just two hits off Orioles starter Brad Bergesen and trailed 3-0 going into the seventh. Shane Victorino started the rally with a double and Chase Utley sliced an RBI double to left. After Matt Stairs lined a single to right, Jayson Werth popped out. But Greg Dobbs ripped an RBI single over first baseman Aubrey Huff’s head to cut it to 3-2.

Baez came in and retired Pedro Feliz on a deep fly to center before Howard crushed his 20th homer. A sellout crowd gave him a curtain call and he acknowledged their cheers.

Bergesen, who was outstanding in his last four starts, allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings.

Phillies starter J.A. Happ gave up two runs and 10 hits in six innings, spending most of the night pitching out of trouble. The lefty rebounded from a pair of so-so starts in which he allowed nine runs in 11 innings.

The Orioles left a season-high 11 men on base, squandering a couple opportunities with a runner on third and less than two outs.

Huff’s RBI double in the fifth gave Baltimore a 1-0 lead, and the Orioles tacked on a run in the sixth after Robert Andino started the inning with a double to right. Andino moved to third on Bergesen’s sacrifice and scored on Roberts’ sacrifice fly to center.

Durbin walked Roberts with the bases loaded to force in a run in the seventh.