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Phillies sink Braves on Howard's home run

Aug 13, 2007 - 5:13 AM By Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Braves scored first in all three games against the Philadelphia Phillies, but dropped two of them. They also dropped in the standings.

Ryan Howard belted a three-run home run to back a solid outing by Jamie Moyer as the Phillies rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Braves in the rubber game at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday night.

Jimmy Rollins added two hits, including a triple, and three runs scored as Philadelphia moved into second place in the National League East Division, one-half game in front of Atlanta.

"These kind of games are big," Howard said. "These games right here, you kind of try to treat like playoff games. Tight-game and big-game situations, going out there against the Braves was kind of like a playoff atmosphere."

The Phillies remained three games behind the first-place New York Mets.

"We've got 45 games left after today," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "If we stay focused, we'll be OK."

Moyer pitched into the seventh inning, when Atlanta pulled within 4-3 on Martin Prado's RBI double. One out later, Antonio Alfonseca replaced Moyer and struck out Yunel Escobar and Matt Diaz to end the frame.

J.C. Romero and Tom Gordon worked a scoreless eighth before Brett Myers pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his ninth save.

"(Alfonseca) did a heck of a job with two punchouts with a guy on third," Myers said.

The four relievers combined to retire all eight Atlanta batters they faced.

"We had some chances," Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. "Their bullpen did a great job and Moyer kept us off-balance."

Moyer (11-8) allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. The veteran lefthander walked two and struck out four and is unbeaten in his last five starts.

After allowing two first-inning runs, Moyer retired 18 of the next 21 batters he faced.

"I was able to settle down a little bit and get on a roll through the middle innings," Moyer said. "You don't like to start the game off giving up the two runs."

The Phillies trailed, 2-1, in the fifth when Braves starter Buddy Carlyle issued a four-pitch leadoff walk to Rollins. Tadahito Iguchi followed with a grounder to Prado at second, who flipped to Escobar, but Escobar failed to touch the second base bag in trying to turn the double play and both runners safe.

After Pat Burrell fouled out, Howard drove a 1-0 offering from Carlyle over the left field fence for a three-run home run - his 33rd - to give Philadelphia a 4-2 lead and end Carlyle's night.

"I just came up and tried to get a run home," Howard said. "(Carlyle) just kind of left a fastball middle-away. I was able to make good contact and it took off."

Carlyle (7-4) went 4 1/3 innings and allowed four runs - three earned - on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He entered the contest with a 6-1 record and a 3.21 ERA in his last eight starts.

Atlanta scored first for the third straight time in the series. The first three batters had base hits in the first inning as the Braves took a 2-0 lead. Escobar singled, Diaz doubled and both runners scored on a two-run single by Chipper Jones.

The Phillies also quickly rallied for the third consecutive game, using a single and two walks to load the bases with one out. Carlyle struck out Aaron Rowand, but Jayson Werth lined an RBI single to right that cut the deficit to 2-1. On the play, Pat Burrell was easily thrown out at the plate by Jeff Francoeur to end the inning.

After the Phillies had runners on first and second with one out when Abraham Nunez lined a single to right, Francoeur gunned out another runner at the plate in the fourth inning.

Phillies third base coach Steve Smith again elected to challenge Francoeur's arm by sending Werth, and again Francoeur's strong throw was in plenty of time. With runners now on second and third, Moyer struck out to end the threat.

Francoeur had another chance to throw out a runner in the seventh on Burrell's sacrifice fly after Rollins led off with a triple, but his throw sailed into the stands behind the Braves dugout, allowing Rollins to score the insurance run that increased the lead to 5-3.

"(Francoeur) saved Buddy big time with the throws," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "The last one, he just got under it a little bit and (the throw) took off."