Howard returns and blasts HR as Phillies top Reds

Apr 22, 2007, 20:55 GMT

Cincinnati, OH - Freddy Garcia notched his first victory with the Phillies while Ryan Howard returned to the lineup and hit a two-run homer, as Philadelphia downed Cincinnati, 9-3, in the rubber match of a three- game set at Great American Ball Park.

Garcia (1-1) made his second start of the season and allowed just two runs on four hits in five-plus innings. The veteran right-hander also struck out three and did not walk a batter as the Phillies have won two straight for the first time this season.

Howard returned to action after missing the last three games with a sprained ligament in his left knee and finished with three runs batted in.

Chase Utley went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and an RBI in the victory.

Right-hander Matt Belisle (2-1) started on the mound for Cincinnati and gave up four runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking one in five innings.

Ryan Freel had a triple for the Reds, who have lost two straight. Freel has now hit safely in seven straight games.

The Phillies jumped on the Reds early and scored two runs in the first to take the lead. Shane Victorino singled with one out and moved to third on Utley's double. A sac-fly from Howard plated Victorino and a base hit to right by Wes Helms brought Utley home to make it 2-0.

Philadelphia added two runs in the third to go up 4-0. Jimmy Rollins hit a single and hustled to third on Victorino's base hit. Rollins then scored on a double by Utley. Howard was intentionally walked and after Helms struck out, Greg Dobbs plated Victorino with a sac-fly.

The Reds made it 4-1 in the fourth as Brandon Phillips scored on a sac-fly by Javier Valentin.

Garcia got into trouble in the sixth after Scott Hatteberg doubled and Phillips was hit by a pitch. Left-hander Matt Smith relieved Garcia and struck out Josh Hamilton before walking Adam Dunn. Valentin then lined out for the second out of the frame and Geoff Geary entered the contest. Edwin Encarnacion greeted Geary with a single to right as Hatteberg scored to make it 4-2, but Victorino gunned down Phillips at home to end the threat.

The Phillies went up 5-2 in the seventh after Utley drew a one-out walk, stole second and then advanced to third as the throw by Valentin sailed into the outfield. Encarnacion then booted a grounder from Helms and Utley scored.

Geary stayed in the game and pitched a scoreless seventh while Antonio Alfonseca pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.

Howard launched a two-run homer to center in the ninth and Carlos Ruiz doubled home Aaron Rowand to give the Phils a seven-run cushion.

Pinch-hitter Ken Griffey Jr. hit an RBI double off Brett Myers in the ninth to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

The Phillies have now won eight of their last 10 games in Cincy...Helms finished 3-for-5 with a run scored and RBI...Utley has 10 doubles on the season...The Reds had five hits and committed three errors...Rowand finished 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.