Pedro Feliz hit a grand slam, J.A. Happ pitched effectively into the sixth inning, the Braves lost and the Philadelphia Phillies moved to within one game of clinching their third straight NL East title with a 7-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
Happ allowed four runs -- three earned -- and nine hits in 5 and 2/3 innings, striking out six. He's the first rookie to win 12 games for Philadelphia since Jim Owens in 1959.
Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer and Philadelphia's injury-plagued bullpen tossed 3 and 1/3 scoreless innings. Jamie Moyer got four outs and Ryan Madson pitched the last two innings for his 10th save in 16 chances. He allowed two hits in the ninth, but he struck out Carlos Lee on a 96 mph fastball and got Hunter Pence looking to end it.
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Madson knocked down Pence with a 97 mph fastball on an 0-2 pitch before freezing him with another 97 mph heater.
Moyer landed awkwardly on his final pitch in the seventh and was helped to the dugout by catcher Paul Bako. Center fielder Shane Victorino made an outstanding, twisting catch on Jeff Keppinger's drive as Moyer watched on his hands and knees. Moyer strained his left groin.
Feliz put the Phillies ahead 5-1 in the fourth with his seventh career slam. Ryan Howard started the inning with an infield single and Raul Ibanez followed with a single. After Werth walked to load the bases, Feliz drove the next pitch to the seats in leftfield for his 12th homer.
A sellout crowd stood and waved their white-and-red "Fightin' Phils" rally towels, giving Feliz a curtain call.
Werth went deep off Wesley Wright in the fifth to give the Phillies a 7-2 lead. The All-Star outfielder has 35 homers and 96 RBIs in his first season as a full-time starter.
The Phillies had lost five of seven coming in, prompting manager Charlie Manuel to hold a closed-door meeting in the clubhouse three hours before the first pitch. Whatever he said worked.
