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CHC@PHI: Rollins' three-run homer opens the scoring

PHILADELPHIA -- Two cornerstones of the Phillies' success this season came up short in pressure-filled moments Thursday night against the Cubs.

The back end of the Phillies' bullpen blew just its second save this season and first since April 15 against the Marlins.

Defensively, a costly throwing error by third baseman Placido Polanco to first led to Chicago's Tyler Colvin scoring the winning run from second in an 11-inning 4-3 loss to the Cubs just after midnight ET on Friday at Citizens Bank Park.

"Had the ball stayed down I probably would have had a better shot, but it kind of shot up," Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard said. "It was in between where it could either go [and] ... it was right in front of the lip [of the grass]. It just kind of bounced up a little bit higher and it kind of got me. I wanted to try to keep it in front at the very least, and it shot up and just got me in the chest. I wasn't able to contain it."

The Phillies' .988 fielding percentage is tied with four others for tops in baseball.

Closer Ryan Madson had been a perfect 14-for-14 in save opportunities, but he left a fastball out over the plate, and Geovany Soto took advantage with his first home run since May 4.

"It was a tough spot, 2-0 [count], ninth inning, one-run lead, you don't want to walk him, but you don't want to go inside," Madson said. "It wasn't a bad pitch, and sometimes they're going to hit it."

It appeared Colvin hit a go-ahead home run immediately after Soto, but replays showed a fan reached over the fence in right field and interfered with the ball.

"I agree. I think it's a double," said Colvin, who snapped an 0-for-34 streak with what was ruled a ground-rule double. "We've got replay, they got it right and that's the way it is."

Before Madson's slipup, Jose Contreras gave up back-to-back doubles with two outs in the eighth, the latter of which from Carlos Pena scored Starlin Castro to bring the Cubs within one.

It spoiled an otherwise solid pitching performance by the Phillies after the game was delayed one-hour and 17 minutes because of strong winds and heavy thunderstorms.

Manager Charlie Manuel had Jimmy Rollins in the leadoff spot even before he arrived at the ballpark Thursday, significant in that Rollins' status was in doubt because of a bone bruise on his right knee.

He made his first start since fouling a pitch off his knee last Saturday in Pittsburgh and hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second to give the Phils an early 3-0 lead.

The Phillies' offense disappeared after that, recording just two hits following a two-out single by Polanco in the fourth.

"They brought their left-handed pitchers on, and they definitely shut us down," Manuel said.

The Phillies rolled through their pitchers, leaving just David Herndon after Madson.

Manuel figured Herndon could pitch two or three more innings when he elected to have Herndon bat in the 10th with two out and the winning run 90 feet away after an intentional walk to Domonic Brown loaded the bases.

"At first, I was on deck and it didn't even register," Herndon said. "I was like, 'Come on, D-Brown.' Then I was like, 'Oh, boy.' It was funny he threw me the first two breaking balls that were away. Not that I would have had a shot at hitting any of them, but if I was going to touch any of them, those were it. Those coming into your body aren't fun."

Making a second-straight start, Kyle Kendrick was efficient, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing two singles and striking out two. Thirty-one of his 44 pitches were strikes.

He and Cubs starter Randy Wells were done when play resumed at 9:21 p.m. ET.

"I thought I was coming back the whole time, and then [pitching coach Rich] Dubee just came up to me and said, 'That's it,'" Kendrick said.

Ready to step in was Danys Baez.

He pitched 2 2/3 innings and threw 41 pitches, his most since a gutsy five-inning, 74-pitch outing that earned him major kudos in the Phillies' 19-inning win against the Reds on May 25.

That night, utility man Wilson Valdez earned the win.

This night, the Phillies didn't give him a chance.

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