Major League Baseball

Phillies rally for 7 in 9th to stun Marlins

Published Apr. 25, 2009 7:57 a.m. ET

foxsports

Facing a wild Matt Lindstrom in the ninth inning, Shane Victorino wanted to avoid taking a 98-mph fastball in the ribs.

He hit a game-deciding grand slam instead.

Victorino's two-out homer highlighted a seven-run rally in the ninth Friday against closer Lindstrom, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 7-3.

The Marlins took a three-hitter into the ninth and were two outs from a 3-0 victory when pinch hitter Matt Stairs singled home the Phillies' first run. Lindstrom walked in a run before Victorino hit his second homer of the year on a 2-1 pitch.

Victorino's only other grand slam came in the playoffs last year to beat Milwaukee and C.C. Sabathia. How did the homers compare?

"They're both big," Victorino said. "A home run is a home run for a little guy like me. It's not like I hit many."

The Marlins still own the best record in the NL at 11-5, but they have lost four games in a row and fell to 8-1 when they score first.

"It's a deflating feeling, especially for the guys that worked so hard the whole game, to come in there and blow it," Lindstrom said. "This is going to be a test for me."

Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer with two out in the first off Brett Myers for Florida's only runs. The Phillies have given up at least one homer in all 15 games, extending a major league record to start the season.

Clay Condrey (3-0) pitches two hitless innings, and Ryan Madson struck out the side in the ninth.

The game drew 29,032 spectators, including 1,540 dogs on Bark in the Park Night, and it was a ruff one for the hard-throwing Lindstrom. The Phillies had totaled five hits and one run over a 17-inning stretch when they snapped the slump against him in the ninth.

Jayson Werth doubled with one out, and after a walk, Stairs singled. Lou Marson walked to load the bases, and after a strikeout, Jimmy Rollins walked to force in a run.

Lindstrom went to 1-1 on Victorino, then backed him off the plate with an inside fastball.

"I said, 'OK, let me not get hit in my ribs, but somewhere else,"' Victorino said. "I'm just trying to get a hit, walk, whatever."