The Phillies were down 4-3 at the top of the ninth inning when Pirates’ closer Matt Capps took the mound.

After Pedro Feliz grounded out to second to start the inning, Carlos Ruiz shot a double to left field. Ben Francisco followed as a pinch hitter and doubled Ruiz home to tie the game. Jimmy Rollins hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field, moving Francisco to third. Then Shane Victorino put the Phillies ahead with an RBI triple to deep center.

Headed to the bottom of the ninth inning, the rolling Phillies were up 5-4.

Enter Brad Lidge. Tuesday was Lidge’s fourth straight appearance. In his previous three outings, Lidge had two saves in two opportunities with no runs allowed, a small victory for the struggling closer.

The Pirates opened the inning with a single to left field by shortstop Luis Cruz. The next pitch got passed catcher Carlos Ruiz, advancing Cruz to second base. Brandon Moss tied the game with a single to shallow right, handing Lidge his ninth blown save of the season, by far the most of any closer in the majors.

Moss advanced to second on a fielding error by right fielder Jayson Werth. His throw to plate was in time enough to get Brian Bixler, who was pinch running for Cruz, but the throw was well off target.

It would not matter in the end, as Lidge surrendered a walkoff home run to Andrew McCutchen, his 11th of the season.

It seems that every time Lidge gets a few solid outings under his belt, he has a meltdown like Tuesday’s against the Pirates. The outing further complicates manager Charlie Manuel decision making on what to do about his struggling closer, not yet a year removed from a remarkable 2008 season in which he was a perfect 41 for 41 in save opportunities.

Photo: Keith Srakocic/AP