It's hard to say what was more inconceivable: the insult flung at Howard or the impeccable work of the bullpen.
To preserve a tie in the later innings, the Phillies received three perfect innings of relief from Danys Baez, Antonio Bastardo, and Kyle Kendrick.
Ryan Madson was summoned for the 11th and earned his second save in two days. With the tying run at the plate, Brad Hawpe flied out deep to left to end it. He slammed his helmet.
Howard had struck out eight times in 12 at-bats before coming to the plate in the 11th, a perfect face for what is the slumping Phillies offense.
"I'm sure they're not trying to make outs," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. mused before the game.
Well, no. But it's not pretty. The Phillies haven't scored more than four runs since April 9. But they are 8-4 in those games.
The pitching has been astounding. In a tie game, Baez, Bastardo, and Kendrick were sharp. They each pitched in unaccustomed roles in relief of Joe Blanton.
There was no shutout for the third straight game; San Diego scored three Blanton pitches into it. Cameron Maybin singled on the first pitch and Jason Bartlett tripled on the third.
But Blanton was solid after that. He allowed another run in the fifth, but in no other inning did a Padre reach third base. It helped that San Diego used a lineup that included five hitters with a season batting average under .200.
Still, after allowing 12 runs in his first two starts, Blanton has pitched 14 innings with four runs surrendered. He has been much improved.
