Phillies avoid sweep with 7-6 win over Marlins, get ready to defend World Series title

Phillies avoid sweep and get set for title defense

PHILADELPHIA — Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley got to rest. Up ahead, they get to defend.

The Philadelphia regulars watched as Paul Hoover hit a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning, and the defending World Series champion Phillies prepared for their title defense with a 7-6 victory over the Florida Marlins on Sunday.

“This is when it starts,” Rollins said. “You have to get to the postseason to have that opportunity.”

The Phillies (93-69) will open the best-of-five division series at home Wednesday against Colorado. The Rockies swept the Phillies in the 2007 division series en route to the World Series.

“They beat us three games. That’s what I remember,” Rollins said. “Oh well. We’re well beyond that.”

They used that disappointment as motivation last season when they won their first World Series since 1980. Cole Hamels was the NLCS and World Series MVP, and may get the call to start Game 1 vs. Colorado. Manager Charlie Manuel could also go with Cliff Lee, who went 7-4 after he was acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline.

“They know what it takes to win and they do things the right way,” Lee said. “You can see it in the game, and I can see it in between off the field. It’s a good thing to be a part of.”

The Game 1 starter isn’t Manuel’s only pressing question. He has to decide between Ryan Madson or Brad Lidge as his closer, and if he wants to use rookie left-hander J.A. Happ as a starter or out of bullpen.

“I’m not ready to reveal what we’re going to do yet because I’m not sure what we’re going to do,” Manuel said.

Happ, a 12-game winner, pitched only two innings in his 23rd start of the year. The left-handed rookie, who struck out 10, tossed a shutout against the Rockies in July but also has had success out of the bullpen.

“Hopefully when they know, I’ll know,” he said. “I think we all read a little bit into it. I think I’m going to be available when needed. I don’t know what that means.”

Just one RBI shy of 100, right fielder Jayson Werth started and went 1 for 4, missing out on the milestone. Werth was intentionally walked with the winning run on second in the 10th inning.

Hanley Ramirez got the day off and finished with a .342 average to become the first Marlins player to win a batting title. He also is the first NL shortstop to win the batting title since Dick Groat in 1960.

At Los Angeles, Vicente Padilla struck out 10 in five innings for the Dodgers, who host St. Louis on Wednesday in their postseason opener.

Padilla (4-0) allowed one run and four hits and Ramon Troncoso got three outs for his sixth save. Jason Marquis (15-13) gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings for Colorado.

At Atlanta, Alberto Gonzalez drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the 15th inning and Washington closed the season with a seven-game winning streak.

Playing the longest game since the franchise moved to Washington from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nationals became the first team in baseball history to close the season with seven straight wins after losing the first seven. Still, they finished 59-103 — the worst record in baseball.

At San Diego, Randy Johnson made what could be the last appearance of his 22-year career, pitching one inning of relief for the Giants.

Although the Big Unit gave up an unearned run in the seventh that tied it at 3, Pablo Sandoval provided the go-ahead run when he homered on the first pitch of the 10th inning.

The 46-year-old Johnson said Thursday that he’ll take his time in the offseason deciding his future. The 303-game winner struck out two to increase his career total to 4,875.

At St. Louis, Prince Fielder homered twice and Jody Gerut’s two-out infield hit drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning for the Brewers.

The Cardinals failed to give manager Tony La Russa a happy 65th birthday and finished 1-6 after clinching the NL Central.

The Brewers swept the three-game series to finish 80-82 hours after manager Ken Macha learned he’d be back for a second season.

At New York, Nelson Figueroa pitched a four-hitter for his first major league complete game, Angel Pagan keyed the offense and the Mets wrapped completed a three-game sweep.

Figueroa (3-8) retired 13 of his final 14 batters. Pagan went 4 for 4 with a triple and two doubles for New York (70-92), a National League favorite back in April before injuries decimated the roster and sent the team into a tailspin.

At Chicago, Doug Davis pitched eight strong innings and Chris Young homered to lead Arizona.

Davis (9-14) allowed six hits and Juan Gutierrez finished for his ninth save in 10 chances.

At Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips drove in three runs and Homer Bailey shut out Pittsburgh for six innings. Bailey (8-5) finished his breakout season by improving to 4-0 against the Pirates (62-99), who closed their 17th straight losing season.