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Utley sparks streaking Phillies past Nationals

Apr 26, 2007 - 5:12 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- A career night by Chase Utley led to yet another victory for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Utley had a personal-best five hits and the Phillies won their fifth straight game with a 9-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Expected to contend in the National League East, the Phillies stumbled out of the gate with just three wins in their first 13 games.

A team meeting in Cincinnati over the weekend seems to have at least temporarily fixed things as Philadelphia is on its first winning streak of the season.

"I think there is no doubt the meeting definitely helped," Philadelphia starter Jon Lieber said. "Some things were said and probably needed to be said and we just moved on."

Utley has been particularly hot during the streak with 11 hits, including two home runs, and seven RBI. He drove in three on Wednesday.

"He is hitting the ball all over the field," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said of Utley's hot streak.

"It is all about finding holes and staying positive and sticking with the game plan," Utley said. "I think as a team lately we have been swinging the bats very well."

Carlos Ruiz gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the second with an RBI groundout. Utley scored on a homer by Ryan Howard in the third to make it 3-0.

"Those are as tough a 3-4 (hitters) as there are in the big leagues," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "Those two guys (Utley and Howard) are scary."

Utley added an RBI double in the fifth and a two-run single in the sixth as the Phillies extended their lead to 7-2.

"It is good to see him getting back to being Chase Utley," Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. "Taking his time at the plate and not missing the ball. He has definitely been doing that and it has been big."

Lieber (1-0) picked up the win. The righthander, who started the year in the bullpen, allowed two runs and five hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

The Nationals were looking to end their three-game losing skid, but John Patterson (0-4) did not have it. Patterson has still not pitched more than 5 1/3 innings in any start this season after allowing six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"I felt better than I have felt," Patterson said. "It was a little bit better today. My breaking ball has been better, but fastball-wise, it was better today."

Rollins hit his NL-leading eighth homer in the eighth, a two-run shot, to cap the scoring. Afterward he was more excited about the Phillies' recent turnaround.

"It is great," Rollins said on the current streak. "It is winning baseball and what we are here to do is win."

Philadelphia center fielder Aaron Rowand extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying a career high, with a single to left field in the second inning.