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PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Howard isnt sure what to expect when he likely plays his final game in a Phillies uniform on Sunday.Ill just show up and see what happens, Howard said after getting four standing ovations and being called out of the dugout in the Phillies 5-3 loss to the Mets on Saturday.The 36-year-old, who is the only player remaining from the Phillies 2008 World Series team, brought the fans out of their seats when he hit a game-tying, two-run homer in the fifth inning.Howard turned on a 1-0 fastball by Mets starter Bartolo Colon, driving his 25th homer of the season into the right field seats.At the urging of fans Howard, who is expected to receive a $10 million buyout from the Phillies after the season, stepped to the top of the dugout steps and raised his right hand in appreciation.The curtain call was awesome, Howard said. It was good to be able to do it and tie the game.His home run was his 382nd for the Phillies and tied him with Jim Rice and Frank Howard for 67th place on baseballs all-time list.Howard is averaging a home run every 9.69 at-bats since the All-Star break. Thirty-five of his 65 hits this season have gone for extra bases.Hes been swinging the bat well, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. Hes been great. He gets along with all the guys. (Sunday) will be fun to watch. . Hopefully hell hit another one (Sunday).NO RELIEF IN SIGHTThe Phillies bullpen has allowed 62 earned runs in their last 58 1/3 innings over the past 14 games. In fact, 20 of the last 27 relievers used by the Phils have given up at least one earned run.IN A PINCHDarin Rufs pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning was his second of the season and third of his career. It was the Phils fourth pinch-hit homer of the season.HECTOR WTH A KPhillies reliever Hector Neris now has 102 strikeouts, which is the most by a Phillies reliever since Dick Selma fanned 153 batters in 1970.BUNTING HIS WAYCesar Hernandez recorded the Phillies first hit against Colon when he led off the fourth inning with a bunt single. It was his 15th bunt single, tops in the National League and the most in a single season by a Phillies player since Larry Bowa had 15 in 1975.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies shortstop Freddy Galvis, who left Friday nights game in the seventh inning with tightness in his left hamstring, did not play. He was replaced in the lineup by Andres Blanco.UP NEXTThe regular season ends Sunday, with Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60 ERA) scheduled to face Phillies RHP Jerad Eickhoff (11-14, 3.72). . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . . Calgary scored on the first shift, and Michael Cammalleri scored twice as the Flames cruised to a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". MACON, Ga. -- John Russ threw two touchdowns and ran for two more, leading Mercer to its first win of the season with a 34-27 victory over Tennessee Tech on Saturday.Russ threw for 259 yards for the Bears (1-2). Sam Walker caught both scoring passes and Cole Fisher kicked a pair of field goals.Mercer trailed through much of the game but was able to capitalize on two Tennessee Tech turnovers in the second half, the second leading to a Russ touchdown throw to Walker that put the Beaars on top for the first time, 24-21, with 2:44 left in the third quarter.ddddddddddddA fumble recovery for a score had Tennessee Tech up 27-24 but a Russ scoring run with 8:04 left in the fourth and Fishers second field goal helped put Mercer back on top for good.Michael Birdsong threw for 239 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Golden Eagles (1-2). ' ' '
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