Pratt’s Blast Powers Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have been rallying for some thrilling victories lately.

Pinch-hitter Todd Pratt connected for a two-run home run in the bottom of the 13th inning Saturday, giving Philadelphia a wild 6-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The Phillies’ last three victories have come in their final at-bat, including Thursday’s 3-2 victory against Atlanta when they beat closer John Smoltz.

“It’s getting exciting around here,” Jim Thome said. “This was probably one of the best games I’ve ever played in, with the way it went back and forth all day. This was a lot of fun.”

Nomar Garciaparra tied a club record with six hits for the Red Sox, who blew three late leads.

Thome hit two game-tying homers, and Bobby Abreu homered for the Phillies.

A run-scoring double by Todd Walker -- who also homered twice -- and Garciaparra’s sixth single gave Boston a 5-3 lead in the 13th.

But Abreu drew a leadoff walk from Jason Shiell in the bottom half and scored on David Bell’s one-out double.

Rudy Seanez (0-1) relieved, and Pratt sent a 1-and-0 pitch over the center-field wall for his first home run since Sept. 1.

Pedro Martinez pitched seven sharp innings and left with a 2-1 lead, but the Boston bullpen had another major meltdown.

Garciaparra became the fourth Red Sox player to get six hits in a game, joining Jimmy Piersall (1953), Pete Runnels (1960) and current Boston broadcaster Jerry Remy (1981).

Atlanta 10, Baltimore 2 -- Javy Lopez hit two three-run homers at Atlanta and rookie Horacio Ramirez (6-2) won his fifth decision in a row.

Lopez’s first homer capped a five-run sixth inning, which wiped out Baltimore’s 1-0 lead. It was his fifth two-homer game this season and matched his career high with six runs batted in.

Milwaukee 8, Minnesota 1 -- Wes Helms hit two home runs and drove in five runs, and John Vander Wal homered and had two RBIs at Milwaukee.

Helms, who has 13 homers, followed Vander Wal’s leadoff homer in the fourth with his first home run. He hit a three-run shot in the sixth inning for his first multihomer game this season and third of his career.

St. Louis 8, Kansas City 1 -- Woody Williams (9-2) pitched eight strong innings, and Albert Pujols homered and drove in four runs at St. Louis.

Rookie Bo Hart had three hits, making him seven for 12 in three games since being recalled from triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Houston 9, Texas 5 -- Craig Biggio homered on the first pitch of the game to help make a winner of Rodrigo Rosario (1-0) in his major league debut.

Texas’ Rafael Palmeiro hit the 505th homer of his career, passing Eddie Murray and moving into 18th place all-time. Palmeiro is one behind Sammy Sosa.

Biggio’s 32nd career leadoff homer extended his NL record.

Seattle 4, San Diego 2 -- Joel Pineiro (7-5) held the host Padres to five hits in seven innings and retired his last 12 batters.

Catcher Ben Davis tied the Seattle club record with three doubles and Ichiro Suzuki hit a leadoff double to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

Montreal 8, Toronto 5 -- Orlando Cabrera’s three-run homer capped a seven-run eighth inning and the host Expos overcame a five-run deficit.

Former NBA player Mark Hendrickson became the first Blue Jay pitcher to hit a home run.

Colorado 9, Detroit 6 -- Preston Wilson hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and a solo shot in the seventh to spark the Rockies at Denver.

Todd Helton and Juan Uribe also homered for the Rockies, who turned four double plays. Jason Jennings (7-5) won his fourth in a row.

Florida 2, Tampa Bay 0 -- Rookie left-hander Dontrelle Willis (7-1) won his sixth consecutive start in a game at Miami called in the sixth inning because of rain. Willis has given up four runs in 42 2/3 innings during his winning streak.

Chicago White Sox 7, Chicago Cubs 6 -- Mark Buehrle (4-10) won his second consecutive start following a nine-game losing streak, and the White Sox jumped to a 7-0 lead and held on at Wrigley Field.

New York Yankees at New York Mets -- The game was rained out in the fourth inning with the Yankees leading, 4-3.

The game will be made up Saturday as part of a day-night doubleheader. The teams will play a regularly scheduled game at Yankee Stadium in the afternoon and the makeup game at Shea Stadium at night.