MVP Howard Slams Out Of Slump

In pinch-hit cameo, slugger lifts Phillies over dominating Unit, D-Backs
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted May 10, 2007 4:17 AM CDT
MVP Howard Slams Out Of Slump
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Medders, right, stands off the mound after giving up a grand slam to Philadelphia Phillies pinch hitter Ryan Howard, left, who rounds the bases in the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 9, 2007, at Chase Field in Phoenix (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)   (Associated Press)

Six shutout innings by D-Backs ace Randy Johnson went for naught after he loaded the bases in the seventh; struggling slugger Ryan Howard, last year's NL MVP, golfed the first pitch he saw from reliever Brandon Medders and put Philadelphia up for good. The Phillies won, 9-3.

Howard now is 3-for-30 so far in May; all three hits have been home runs. The win went to Jaime Moyer, who had last faced Johnson in a Mariners-Rangers game over 17 years ago—the longest span between pitcher matchups. Their combined ages, at 88-plus years, also set a record for opposing left-handed starters. (More MLB stories.)

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