Phillies Keep World Series Hopes Alive

The visiting Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 Thursday to avoid elimination from Major League Baseball’s National League Championship Series.The Phillies were down 1-0 in the third inning when they scored three runs off the Giants, two of them due to a fielding error by infielder Aubrey Huff. Jayson Werth blasted a solo home run in the ninth inning to give Philadelphia an insurance run.Phillies pitching star Roy Halladay gave up two runs and six hits, while striking out five batters over six innings of work. His San Francisco counterpart, Tim Lincecum, surrendered four hits and three runs over seven innings.The loss kept the Giants from advancing to the World Series for the fourth time since the franchise moved from New York in 1958. The series moves back to Philadelphia for game six on Saturday, with the Giants holding a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.The American League Championship Series resumes Friday in Arlington, Texas, as the Rangers host the New York Yankees. The Rangers lead the best-of-seven series 3-2, and can advance to their first-ever World Series -Voanews