Home run payoff: Jenkins' home run was a real screamer

Carlella Foster made a valiant effort to refrain from screaming hysterically into the phone.

When contacted by the Daily News yesterday and told that Geoff Jenkins' pinch homer in the Phillies' 7-5 win over Florida made her $1,000 richer, Foster tried her best to contain her excitement.

Tried, and failed.

"I am still trying to process all this, you have to understand, I've never won anything," said Foster, from Philadelphia. "This relieves so much stress, you have no idea."

Foster was the second weekend cash winner in the Daily News Home Run Payoff contest. Martin Brown collected a $1,000 payout following a Ryan Howard blast Friday.

"Wow, what perfect timing," Foster said. "It's Sunday and the beginning of a new week. You didn't just make my day, you made my week."

Four others were winners in the contest yesterday. Each winning a Phillies gift pack in the sixth inning were: Rick Brown, Philadelphia Isabella Banks, Philadelphia A. Santaniello, Philadelphia K. Sutton, Philadelphia

Three others claimed prizes in the contest over the weekend. Each winning a Phillies gift pack in the fifth inning of Saturday's game were: Ann Catania, Newtown Square Thomas Fox Jr., Bear, Del. John Goodwin, Roslyn

The Daily News pays $1,000 for a home run hit in the Payoff inning and $10,000 for a grand slam. Contestants whose batters fail to hit a home run receive a gift pack, which includes a variety of Phillies-related items.

This season, the Daily News has paid out $8,000.

You can hear the Home Run Payoff inning during each Phillies broadcast on WPHT (1210-AM).

Today's coupon is on Page 78. *