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Werth powers Phillies past Cubs

Aug 31, 2008 - 12:39 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- To snap their three-game skid, the Philadelphia Phillies had to beat the hottest - and best - team in baseball. In their third try on Saturday, the Phillies finally got the job done against the Chicago Cubs.

Jayson Werth homered twice and drove in four runs and Ryan Howard blasted his major league-leading 37th home run as the Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Cubs.

Brett Myers (8-10) scattered 11 hits over seven strong innings, allowing two runs while striking out eight without a walk. The 6-4, 238-pound righthander won for the fifth time in six decisions since returning from a month-long demotion to the minor leagues, snapping the Cubs' seven-game winning streak in the process.

"We needed a win, we lost three games in a row that we were winning," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "I would say today was kind of a must-win. We can't lose three or four in a row this late in the season."

Werth was the offensive catalyst for the Phillies. After homering in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1, Werth put Philadelphia on top two innings later.

After Ted Lilly hit Shane Victorino with a pitch to load the bases, Werth made him pay, lining a single to right field to score a pair of runs and put the Phillies on top.

"This year I have been struggling with the bases loaded," Werth said. "That was a situation where the game was tied, we had them where we wanted them and I got a fastball and went with the pitch."

Howard and Werth added solo homers in the eighth inning to give Philadelphia a four-run cushion.

"I know he has been swinging the bat pretty well for them," Lilly said of Werth. "The hits that he got off of me weren't terrible pitches, but they weren't my best pitches, either. I can tip my hat to him; he showed a good piece of hitting against us today."

Myers finally ran into trouble in the eighth, giving the Cubs a prime opportunity to stage a rally. It was not anything unfamiliar to the Phillies, who blew eighth-inning leads in two of their previous three games.

Myers surrendered three straight singles to start the frame, with Ryan Theriot coming around to score on Aramis Ramirez's base hit.

Philadelphia then went to its bullpen, which imploded in Thursday's loss at Wrigley Field. This time, the relief corps was able to hold on, as J.C. Romero came on and struck out three of the four batters he faced to preserve the three-run lead.

"That was great. We didn't have that the last two days," Myers said. "The Cubs came back on our bullpen and I was hoping it would not happen three days in a row."

Brad Lidge worked a perfect ninth to record his 32nd save in as many opportunities.

"We left too many people in scoring position; that was the storyline of the game," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We squandered too many opportunities ... (Myers) threw a good ballgame, he really did. He was able to pitch out of some jams and we helped him out by hitting a few balls hard right at people."

Myers is 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA since returning to the major leagues in late July.

"I think his composure on the mound, is more focused and his command is better," Manuel said. "He is throwing his fastball on both sides of the plate and isn't afraid to stand people up."

Lilly (13-8) gave up three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. The lefthander struck out five without a walk.

Geovany Soto had two hits and an RBI and Derrek Lee went 3-for-4 for the Cubs, who have lost just seven times this month.