ATLANTA — The Braves kept coming up just short of the fence thanks to Shane Victorino. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard showed them how it's done.

Utley hit a two-run homer and Howard led off the ninth inning with a tie-breaking shot that gave the Philadelphia Phillies their fourth straight win, 3-2 over Atlanta in the opener of an important NL East series last night.

Victorino, the Maui native, put on a dazzling defensive show in center field, chasing down one long drive after another to keep the Braves from extending their winning streak to a season-best six games. Atlanta had at least four flyouts to the warning track.

Philadelphia extended its lead over Atlanta in the NL East to six games.

"I don't know how many balls they hit to the wall," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "We couldn't afford to have them go any farther."

Victorino put on a real show in center field. He ended the fifth chasing down a drive by Brian McCann, leaping up to catch it before he slammed into the padded well. McCann buckled over in disbelief after rounding first. The catch prevented Nate McLouth from scoring the go-ahead run.

"I thought it was out," McCann said. "But he covers a lot of ground."

Victorino wasn't done, either. Garret Anderson led off the sixth with another towering shot, this one to right-center. Victorino caught it reaching back over his right shoulder with his left arm, lost his balance and tumbled into the wall.

"I take pride in my defense," Victorino said. "That's it."