Howard belts two homers as Phils stomp Padres

Jul 22, 2007, 5:30 GMT

San Diego, CA - Ryan Howard went 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs and five RBI as the Philadelphia Phillies pounded the San Diego Padres, 12-4, in the third game of a four-game set at Petco Park.

Wes Helms, Greg Dobbs and Carlos Ruiz each had two RBI for the Phillies, who have won two straight after losing their previous two.

Jamie Moyer (8-8) snapped a three-game losing streak as he gave up four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Milton Bradley hit a two-run home run while David Wells (5-6) got the loss as he was drilled for seven runs on seven hits in just 4 1/3 innings of work for the Padres, who have dropped three of their last five.

Before the game, the Padres held a ceremony to dedicate a statue of Hall of Fame inductee Tony Gwynn. Gwynn will be inducted into the Hall on July 29 along with Orioles great Cal Ripken Jr.

Gwynn spent 20 seasons with the Padres, who are honoring the 15-time All-Star all weekend with a variety of in-stadium giveaways. In that span, the outfielder tied a National League record with eight batting titles, matching Honus Wagner's mark.

Just the 17th player in league history to spend an entire career of 20-or-more seasons with one club, Gwynn, also known as 'Mr. Padre', retired with a career batting average of .338 with 3,141 hits in 2,440 games.

The Phillies grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Howard blasted a three- run home run to dead center.

San Diego got a run in the third as Josh Bard's single to center scored Adrian Gonzalez to make it a 3-1 contest.

Philadelphia, though, responded with three runs in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead. Howard led off the frame with a shot to the second deck in the left- center field stands. After Aaron Rowand flied out, Pat Burrell worked a walk and Helms followed with a home run to left, his fourth of the season.

The Phillies added another run in the fifth when Howard punched a single to right to score Jimmy Rollins for a 7-1 advantage.

San Diego got a run back in the fifth as Bradley led off the inning with a triple off the right field wall and Gonzalez brought him home with a sacrifice fly to make it a 7-2 contest.

The Padres made it a three-run game in the seventh as Bradley hit a line drive two-run shot over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 7-4.

The Phillies, though, sealed the win in the ninth with five runs. With two outs, Rowand beat out an infield single to score Shane Victorino. After Michael Bourn singled to load the bases, Dobbs hit a pinch-hit, two-run single and Ruiz followed with a two-run double down the left field line for a 12-4 lead.

Game Notes

Phillies have won 14 of their last 19 against the Padres...It was Howard's 10th multi-home run game of his career and third of the season...San Diego stranded eight runners on base...Attendance was 40,917.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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