Published: July 12, 2009 12:02 am      

Pirates squander big lead

Howard home run highlights Phillies’ five-run 9th

PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard hit a tying three-run homer in the ninth inning before Paul Bako’s single gave the Philadelphia Phillies an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

The Phillies, who have won eight of nine, trailed 7-3 before pinch-hitter Matt Stairs led off the ninth with a homer off Matt Capps (1-5). Jimmy Rollins walked and stole second, his third steal of the game, and Chase Utley followed with a one-out single to left.

Howard followed Utley by blasting a

1-0 pitch to tie the game at 7. Raul Ibanez, playing in his first game after missing 20 with a groin injury, then hit a ground-rule double to center. After an intentional walk to Jayson Werth and an infield single by Pedro Feliz, Bako lined a 3-2 pitch to left, sending a crowd that included Vice President Joe Biden home happy.

Tyler Walker (1-0) pitched one scoreless inning of relief.

Pittsburgh starter Ross Ohlendorf held the Phillies to five hits while allowing three runs and striking out five. The right-hander matched his career high with four walks.

Garrett Jones, Delwyn Young and Andrew McCutchen homered and drove in two runs for Pittsburgh, which lost for the eighth time in 10 games. Ryan Doumit, playing in his second straight game after returning from a broken right wrist he got April 19, went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI for the Pirates. Andy LaRoche went 2-for-4 with a double and triple and Jones had a pair of hits for Pittsburgh.

Cole Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, lasted six innings while allowing five runs on seven hits – all extra-base hits. The left-hander has allowed at least seven hits in six of his last seven starts and is 1-3 in that stretch.