Howard's 6 RBIs Lead Phils to 10-6 Win
Phillies build big lead, top Marlins to keep hold of 1st place
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Ryan Howard finished 3-for-5 with a three- run homer and tied a season-high with six RBI as Philadelphia built a double- digit lead but held on to top Florida, 10-6, in the finale of a four-game set.
Chase Utley added two hits, two runs scored and drove in two for the Phillies, who took three of four in the series and maintained a half-game edge in the NL East over Atlanta. The Braves routed Pittsburgh, 9-3.
Jimmy Rollins collected two hits and scored a run before leaving in the fourth inning with a tight right hamstring. He is listed as day-to-day.
Cole Hamels (10-10) turned in seven scoreless frames, scattering four hits while fanning five and walking one. The left-hander's consecutive scoreless innings streak was extended to 25 innings over his last four starts, dating back to August 24 against Houston.
Gaby Sanchez hit a three-run blast and Cameron Maybin contributed a two-run double for the Marlins, who have lost four of six.
Andrew Miller (1-1) was tagged in defeat for 11 hits and seven runs over just four innings, boosting his earned-run average to 6.16.
Howard contributed an RBI single in the seventh to get the Phils into double digits with a seemingly safe 10-0 advantage, before Florida hit the scoreboard in the eighth with six runs.
Nate Robertson gave up a single to Emilio Bonifacio and a walk to Logan Morrison before a three-run homer from Sanchez. Maybin later added a two-run double which halved the Marlins' deficit, then a pinch-hit two-out RBI double from Scott Cousins off David Herndon made it 10-6. Mike Rivera grounded out to end the rally.
Herndon walked Morrison with one out in the ninth, bringing on Ryan Madson, who prevented further damage by retiring Sanchez on a pop out and fanning Dan Uggla.
The Phils picked up two runs in the first. Shane Victorino doubled, Utley walked with one out and stole second, then Howard's single that bounced away from Marlins right-fielder Mike Stanton plated both and got Howard to second. Rollins singled with two down but Howard was thrown out at the plate.
In the second, Raul Ibanez stroked a leadoff double, Carlos Ruiz walked, and the bases were loaded when Wes Helms threw away Hamels' attempted sacrifice bunt. Victorino then plated a run with a groundout.
Rollins doubled with two down in the third and after a walk to Ibanez, scored on a Ruiz base hit for a 4-0 Phillies lead.
In the fourth, Placido Polanco and Utley singled with one out ahead of Howard's three-run blast, then Utley added a two-run single in the fifth which put the home team ahead 9-0.
Game Notes
Howard last drove in six during a 12-2 win over Pittsburgh on May 17...The contest ended a stretch of 24 games in 23 days since the Phils' last off day on August 17, during which the three-time NL East champs went 15-9...Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez did not play due to a sore back...Robertson was torched for four hits and six runs with two walks and two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning.
