Howard goes deep twice as Phils crush Marlins

Aug 8, 2007, 2:25 GMT

Philadelphia, PA - Ryan Howard homered twice as the Philadelphia Phillies pounded the Florida Marlins, 11-1, in the first of a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.

Aaron Rowand also homered and scored three times for the Phillies, who have won two in a row and 12 of 17.

Philadelphia starter Jamie Moyer (10-8) went six innings, yielding just one run on five hits, while walking three and striking out five.

'He pitched good,' said Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel. 'He had command and kept the pitches down in the strike zone. Tonight the hitting was there. They have a good hitting team.'

Hanley Ramirez homered for the Marlins, who have lost three of five.

Florida starter Rick VandenHurk (3-3) was tagged for six runs on five hits with five walks and one strikeout in just 2 1/3 innings.

Ramirez put the Marlins on the board in a hurry in the top of the first, lining the first pitch of the game into the seats in left for his 20th homer of the season.

The Phillies tied the game in the home half. Jimmy Rollins led off with a walk, advanced to third on Tadahito Iguchi's single to left and scored when Howard grounded into a fielder's choice with one-out. Philadelphia left the bases loaded later in the frame when Carlos Ruiz flied out to center, ending the inning.

Florida loaded the bases in the second but Moyer struck out Miguel Cabrera looking to end the inning.

The Phillies scored five runs in the third. With one-out, Howard walked and Rowand was hit by a pitch before Jayson Werth singled to right, scoring Howard. Ruiz's single to right plated Rowand and Abraham Nunez followed with a double to center, scoring Werth. Then, with Moyer at the plate, Vanden Hurk balked, allowing Ruiz to score. Moyer then capped the scoring in the frame with a double to left, scoring Nunez.

Back-to-back homers by Howard and Rowand in the fourth pushed Philadelphia's lead to 8-1.

Howard led off the sixth with his 32nd homer of the year and the Phillies added two more later in the frame. Rowand, who was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a Mauro Zarate wild pitch, scored when Nunez reached first on Cabrera's throwing error. Wes Helms' sacrifice fly to right off Lee Gardner scored Werth, who had walked.

J.D. Durbin threw the final three innings for his first career save.

Game Notes

Rowand's homer was his 17th of the year...It was Howard's fourth multi homer game of the season and 11th of his career...With the Mets' loss to the Braves, the Phillies moved within 4 games of New York and remain a 1/2 game behind Atlanta in the NL East...Moyer improved to 6-0 in six career starts against Florida...Zarate made his major league debut, allowing two earned runs in 1 1/3 innings.. Chris Roberson, who entered as a replacement for Rowand, robbed Cabrera of extra bases with a diving catch on a line drive to right-center in the eighth...Attendance was 32,791.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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