Phils squeak by Cubs in the 12th.

Big Ben clocks Cubs in 12th for Phillies' win


By DAVID MURPHY

CHICAGO - Infield pop outs with one out and a runner on third are going to happen sometimes in baseball. But it's always nice to erase their memory with a go-ahead home run in the 12th. That's the attitude Ben Francisco took last night as he reflected on his biggest hit as a Phillie, a solo home run with no out off Kevin Gregg that lifted the Phillies to an improbable, 4-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
"That's what you want to do, you want to move on,'' said Francisco, who had an opportunity to break a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning, but popped out to second base with runners on second and third and one out. "Obviously I was disappointed, frustrated. I felt like I had a good pitch to hit and popped it up. That's baseball. The game's going to come back around to you. You've got to be ready late in the game to pick yourself back up.''
Francisco's home run and a scoreless bottom of the 12th from newly activated Chad Durbin improved the Phillies to 62-48 and ensured that a frustrating night would end on a positive note. Their struggling lineup went just 3-for-39 and closer Brad Lidge blew his seventh save of the season. But starter J.A. Happ shook off some struggles with his command and battled his way through six innings while shortstop Jimmy Rollins broke up a no-hit bid by Rich Harden with a two-run home run in the sixth.
As a result, the Phillies maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over Florida in the NL East.


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