Utley helps Phillies pound Nationals

Apr 26, 2007, 2:25 GMT

Philadelphia, PA - The heart of Philadelphia's lineup came up with a big night, as Chase Utley went 5-for-5 with three RBI and Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins each hit two-run home runs to lead the red-hot Philadelphia Phillies over the Washington Nationals, 9-3, at Citizens Bank Park.

Utley set a new career-high for hits in a game while Rollins, who leads the National League in home runs with eight, also scored three runs for the Phillies, who extended their season-long winning streak to five games.

Aaron Rowand singled in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games for Philadelphia, which will go for the three-game sweep over Washington on Thursday.

Jon Lieber (1-0), in his second start of the season since swapping places with opening day starter Brett Myers in the bullpen, gave up just five hits and two runs in six innings. He also struck out five without walking a batter.

Dmitri Young and Austin Kearns each knocked in a run for the Nationals, who have lost four in a row.

John Patterson (0-4) was tagged for eight hits and six runs in just 5 1/3 innings, and was saddled with the loss.

The Phillies got going in the second inning when Pat Burrell led off with a double down the left field line, went to third on Rowand's one-out single, and scored on Carlos Ruiz's groundout.

Philadelphia then went up 3-0 in the third on Howard's third home run of the season. With two outs and nobody on, Utley kept the inning alive with a double over the head of left fielder Robert Fick. The Nationals had a base open to pitch around Howard, but they elected not to do so and the reigning NL MVP made Washington pay when he lined a 1-0 pitch from Patterson into the right field bleachers.

The Nationals responded in the top of the fourth as Young's two-out single to right field barely eluded the glove of Utley and scored Felipe Lopez from third. Kearns followed with a double off the wall in center field that brought Washington within 3-2.

Philadelphia got a run back in the fifth behind Utley's two-out RBI double to the right field corner. Patterson then walked Howard and Burrell to load the bases, but Fick came up with a nice catch on Wes Helms' line drive to left field to end the inning.

The Phillies, though, loaded the bases in the sixth inning, chasing Patterson from the game while tacking on three more runs.

Ruiz singled with one out and Greg Dobbs worked a pinch-hit walk. Micah Bowie took over for Patterson and promptly walked Rollins to load the bases. Victorino then hit a fly ball to shallow right field and second baseman Ronnie Belliard was unable to come up with the catch, allowing Ruiz to come around and score. Utley followed with a single to left field, scoring Dobbs and Rollins to put Philadelphia up 7-2.

Brian Schneider's RBI fielder's choice in the seventh brought Washington within four runs, but Michael Bourn led off the eighth with his first career triple and Rollins followed with a blast over the right field wall to give Philadelphia a six-run cushion.

Game Notes

With the bases loaded later in the sixth inning for the Phillies, Victorino tried to score on a passed ball but was thrown out at home...In the series finale on Thursday, Cole Hamels will take the mound for Philadelphia against Washington's Shawn Hill...Myers threw a scoreless eighth inning.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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