Howard, Rollins Spark Phillies Win Over Atlanta

Phillies end Atlanta's seven game winning streak

Ryan Howard homered twice, Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run shot, and the Philadelphia Phillies overcame a shortened start by rookie J.A. Happ to end Atlanta's seven-game winning streak with a 9-4 victory Friday night.

Philadelphia, which has won six straight, snapped the Braves' longest stretch of consecutive victories since July 2006, dropping Atlanta 8{ games back in the National League East and hurting their fading wild-card chances.

Howard's 39th and 40th homers came off Tim Hudson (1-1), who gave up six hits, three runs and one walk with three strikeouts in seven innings.

Rollins' 19th homer and Ben Francisco's fifth homer, a solo shot, accounted for Philadelphia's four-run ninth against Manny Acosta.

Happ, making his first start since Sept. 2 because of a strained oblique, left after three innings and did not earn a decision. The Phillies announced his departure was for ``precautionary reasons” after the right-hander allowed five hits, one run, no walks and struck out one.

Kyle Kendrick (2-1) won his second consecutive appearance with four scoreless innings. Allowing four hits with no walks or strikeouts, Kendrick began the fourth with a 2-1 lead courtesy of Howard's two-run shot in the fourth.

Brian McCann cut the lead to 5-3 with his 20th homer, a two-run shot off Tyler Walker in the eighth. Adam LaRoche's RBI single in the ninth off Chad Durbin made it 9-4.

Jayson Werth gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead with a two-run single in the eighth.

Howard made it 3-1 in the sixth, giving him six multihomer games this season and 23 overall to tie Chuck Klein for second-most on the Phillies’ career list.
      
Happ stayed in the game after manager Charlie Manuel, pitching coach Rich Dubee and team trainer visited the mound in the third. Four pitches later, Martin Prado's 10th homer gave the Braves a 1-0 lead.

Hudson, making his fifth start since returning from elbow ligament replacement surgery, retired first 10 batters he faced, allowing no hits or walks, before Francisco singled in the fourth.

Howard raised his career average to .353 with five homers in 34 career at-bats against Hudson. Facing Atlanta pitching in a career that spans nearly six full seasons, the 2006 NL MVP is now hitting .342 with 31 homers and 85 RBIs in 295 career at-bats.

Philadelphia improved to 23-13 in its last 36 games with
Atlanta.
      
Notes: Phillies C Carlos Ruiz left after five innings because of a left wrist strain. Paul Bako took his place. ... Braves C McCann threw out two runners trying to steal third, Ben Francisco in the sixth and Howard in the eighth. ... Philadelphia LF Raul Ibanez threw out Matt Diaz at the plate to end the second. Diaz was trying to score from second on Hudson's single. ... Braves 3B Chipper
Jones was a late addition to Atlanta's lineup, returning after missing the last four games with a strained groin. He went 1 for 4.... Philadelphia CF Shane Victorino was “feeling under the weather,” according to manager Charlie Manuel, and was held out of the lineup. Francisco started in his place.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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