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Howard's blast sparks Phillies past Diamondbacks

May 10, 2007 - 3:53 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Ryan Howard sat and watched the Philadelphia Phillies struggle at the plate for six innings. Then he went out and did something about it.

Howard gave the Phillies their first lead with a pinch grand slam and Jamie Moyer tossed seven solid innings as Philadelphia posted a 9-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday to avert a three-game sweep.

Things did not start out well for Philadelphia as Randy Johnson had his good stuff working early.

Johnson struck out the first six hitters he faced and had seven strikeouts through three innings. He was cruising along until the seventh before the game unraveled for the Diamondbacks.

"He was pretty good right there," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "

With Arizona lead, 3-0, Aaron Rowand led off the inning with a single. Johnson hit Chase Utley with a pitch and walked Pat Burrell to load the bases before exiting having allowed just four hits with nine strikeouts.

"For the first six innings I felt that at times I was in control of the game," Johnson said. "I think what got me tired is that I had nine strikeouts in six innings. Strikeouts take a lot out of you. It might have been old Randy for six innings then I just got old."

Brandon Medders (1-1) came on to relieve Johnson, and the Phillies promptly sent reigning National League MVP Howard out to hit for Wes Helms.

"If ever I was going to use him it was right there in that situation. Once they brought the righthander in that was the exact matchup we wanted," Phillies manager Charlie Manual said. "Ryan is going to be fine he is something special. He has been kind of fighting himself but when it is all said and done he is going to have a tremendous year for us."

Howard did not start for the third consecutive game so he could rest his strained left quadriceps and knee. The thinking also may have been that the big first baseman just needed to clear his head.

Much was expected of Howard this campaign as the Phillies were expected to contend for the NL East Division title. However, both Howard and the team have gotten off to slow starts.

"It felt great, being able to come off the bench after not playing the last couple of days," Howard said. "Plus being hurt and having the season start off the way it has been, it was kind of a relief and it was something that helped the team get back in it. It was helped change the flow of the game."

Entering the game hitting .198 with five homers and 19 RBI, Howard rescued the Phillies by driving the first pitch from Medders over the wall in right field for a 4-3 lead.

"I was just looking for something to hit and fortunately he left it right there," Howard said. "That home run was huge because we have been up and down and for me I have just been trying to out together some good ABs. I think it is starting to come a round and I am feeling healthier."

Medders has now allowed five home runs in 15 1/3 innings this season.

"He (Medders) has given up three or four coming in games like that," Diamondback manager Bob Melvin said. "When we don't have a guy available on a particular day, whether it is (Tony) Pena, (Brandon) Lyons, or (Jose) Valverde the seventh inning is his inning and it hasn't been great for us."

Philadelphia tacked on two runs in the eighth and Shane Victorino hit a two-run homer to highlight a three-run ninth as the lead expanded to 9-3.

Moyer (4-2) was not quite as dominant as Johnson but turned in another strong outing. The 44-year-old lefthander allowed three runs and six hits with a walk and four strikeouts in seven innings. He has yet to allow more than three earned runs in any of his seven starts this season.

"I was able to keep it somewhat close, "Moyer said. "It was nice when I did give up the three runs they were to solo home runs and a single I kept a crooked number of the board and you never know what could happen."

Brett Myers worked two scoreless innings for his third save of the campaign.

The matchup between Johnson and Moyer was the oldest among lefthanders in major league history. Johnson helped set the previous record April 24, when he faced off against fellow 43-year-old David Wells of San Diego.

Arizona scored single runs in the third, fourth and sixth to take a 3-0 lead.

Chris Young had a sacrifice fly in the third and Orlando Hudson and Eric Byrnes each hit solo homers for Arizona.