Flu keeps Phillies’ Ryan Howard on the bench, jeopardizing consecutive games streak

Phillies’ Howard sits with the flu

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies slugger Ryan Howard extended his consecutive games streak by hitting a three-run homer as a pinch-hitter on Saturday night, hours after he was hospitalized with flu symptoms.

The 2006 National League MVP has played 343 straight games since May 25, 2007, the longest active streak in the majors. Before the Phillies played the Baltimore Orioles, manager Charlie Manuel said Howard was unavailable.

But with the Phillies trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Howard came up with two runners on and two outs. He connected against reliever Danys Baez for a drive into Philadelphia’s bullpen to give the Phillies a 5-3 lead. It was his fifth career pinch-hit homer.

Howard was 0 for 3 with a walk in Friday night’s 7-2 loss to the Orioles. He chugged home from first on a double by Jayson Werth in the first inning.

Howard went to the hospital at 3:30 a.m. Saturday after his temperature reached 103.9 degrees. He was released by 11 a.m.

Matt Stairs replaced Howard in the cleanup spot and Greg Dobbs filled in at first base.