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Howard lifts Phils to sweep of Rockies

Aug 4, 2011 - 12:15 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard homered and knocked in four runs as the Philadelphia Phillies took down the Colorado Rockies, 8-6, to sweep a three-game series at Coors Field.

Chase Utley was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Jimmy Rollins scored twice and knocked in a run for the Phillies, winners of six straight.

Roy Halladay (14-4) gave up five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and fanned seven over seven frames.

Todd Helton had two hits, including a solo homer, and three RBI and Dexter Fowler tripled and scored three times as the Rockies dropped their fourth straight.

Jason Hammel (6-11) lasted five innings after he surrendered six runs on eight hits.

The Phillies scored four runs in the second to take a 5-2 lead. Carlos Ruiz singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Rollins single. Rollins moved to second on the throw to the plate. Shane Victorino followed with a single to score Rollins before Utley was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Howard then doubled off the wall in the center, plating Victorino and Utley.

The Rockies came back with a run apiece in the second and third. In the second, Ian Stewart hit a leadoff double then scored on Eliezer Alfonzo's single to right.

The third saw Fowler score on a Helton single to cut the lead to 5-4.

Hammel loaded the bases in fourth on a pair of singles and a walk, but escaped danger by giving up just one run on a wild pitch. With two outs, Hammel's slider skipped by Alfonzo allowing Halladay to score. Halladay slid between the legs of Hammel to beat the tag.

The Rockies added one more in the fifth. Fowler tripled then scored on a Helton groundout.

"We faced today arguably the best pitcher there is in the game," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "And we battled him tooth and nail."

But the Phillies answered back with two more runs in the sixth. Utley singled before Howard crushed a 2-0 fastball into the stands in left-center field for his 24th homer of the season.

"I tried to do what I could to try to make up for it," Howard, who committed two early errors, said. "I was able to get a couple key hits, some RBI's, you got to always stay in the game."

Colorado cut the lead to 8-6 in the eighth after Helton homered. Helton blasted Antonio Bastardo's 2-2 offering over the left-center fence for his 12th of 2011.

After Hammel walked the bases loaded to open the first, the Phillies were only able to cash in one run. Hammel was able to get Howard to chase a breaking ball out of the zone. Pence then sent a fly ball to deep-center field that scored Rollins, but Hammel came right back and struck out Raul Ibanez to retire the side with minimal damage.

Colorado answered in the home half to go up 2-1. In a bizarre play, leadoff- man Eric Young popped a bunt over the head of a charging Howard at first. The ball nearly traveled to the outfield grass leaving the Phillies defense helpless. Young then stole second and scored when Fowler roped a grounder to Howard, who bobbled the ball before throwing over Halladay's head at first. Young scored easily from third and Fowler moved to second on the play. Fowler advanced to third when Helton grounded out and scored on a Tulowitzki sacrifice fly.

"We got off to a sloppy start, but we recovered and stayed after it and ended up winning the game," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Game Notes

Brad Lidge picked up with 100th save in a Phillies uniform. It was also his first save of the season...The Phillies hold an eight-game lead in the NL- East...The Rockies stole their 19th and 20th bases since the All-Star break...Young also stole his fourth base in five games...Colorado fell to 11-15 against the NL-East.