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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 21, 2009

Phillies romp, 12-3


    Associated Press

     • Red Sox sweep
    Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

    Jayson Werth

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    PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard supplied the power and Joe Blanton provided the bulldog innings last night for the defending World Series champions.

    Werth hit his fourth home run in three games and Howard added a mammoth three-run shot to support Blanton's eight effective innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 12-3 romp over the Arizona Diamondbacks and a three-game sweep.

    Carlos Ruiz also homered for the Phillies, who won their fourth straight game and eighth of nine.

    The Phillies capitalized on Arizona starter Doug Davis' erratic location, scoring six runs — five earned — in five innings. Werth's two-run shot to center in the fifth gave Philadelphia a three-run lead, and Ruiz and Howard homered off different relievers during a five-run sixth.

    "There's nobody in that lineup that's an (easy) out," Davis said. "They're relentless. The pitching wasn't that bad, but when you're hot, you're hot."

    How hot? Philadelphia, which leads the National League with 171 home runs, have hit at least one in 10 straight games, and 28 in its previous 15. The 2006 team hit a franchise-best 216 in 2006, led by Howard's 58, also a team single-season record.

    Blanton (8-6) lowed a season-high 10 hits, but limited Arizona to three runs.

    The Diamondbacks, who have lost five straight, didn't walk in the series and scored five runs.

    "Today was a tough day, and it was a tough series," Arizona manager A.J. Hinch said.

    ROCKIES 4, NATIONALS 1

    Carlos Gonzalez blooped an RBI double in the top of the fifth to break a scoreless tie and Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe drove in runs that helped NL wild-card leader Colorado complete a three-game sweep of Washington.

    BRAVES 3, METS 2

    Kenshin Kawakami (6-9) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings, Brian McCann hit a solo homer and Omar Infante and former Mets outfielder Ryan Church also drove in runs as visiting Atlanta took two of three from New York.

    REDS 2, GIANTS 1

    Drew Stubbs hit his first career homer leading off the bottom of the 10th inning by driving a 2-0 pitch from Bob Howry (1-6) off left-field foul screen to help Cincinnati beat San Francisco and end its five-game losing streak.

    ASTROS 4, MARLINS 1

    Wandy Rodriguez (12-7) gave up a run and seven hits in eight-plus innings, and Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence hit homers off Josh Johnson (12-3) as host Houston beat Florida to end the Marlins' streak of 10-hit games at 15.

    CARDINALS 5, PADRES 1

    Brendan Ryan hit his first career grand slam and Joel Pineiro (12-9) gave up a run (a homer to rookie Kyle Banks in the second inning) on four hits over 7 2/3 innings as visiting St. Louis defeated San Diego.

    DODGERS 7, CUBS 2

    Russell Martin snapped a 2-all sixth-inning tie with his second career grand slam as host and West-leading Los Angeles beat Chicago in the series opener to improve to just 16-18 since the All-Star break.