Phils end skid, beat Braves

Sep 5, 2007, 2:59 GMT

Atlanta, GA - Ryan Howard hit a two-run home run that set the tone and Kyle Lohse pitched 6 2/3 solid innings, as the Phillies returned to the win column with a 5-2 victory over Atlanta at Turner Field.

Aaron Rowand continued his career year with a 3-for-5 night and Carlos Ruiz homered and drove home another run for the Phillies, who snapped a three-game losing streak following a six-game win streak that included a four-game sweep of the Mets that had moved them within two games in the National League East.

The Mets beat Cincinnati Tuesday, maintaining their five-game lead over the Phillies in the division race. Philadelphia stayed three games back of Arizona and San Diego in the wild card race.

Lohse (8-12) got the win, giving up two runs on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts. J.C. Romero, Tom Gordon and Brett Myers worked the final 2 1/3 innings to close out the contest. Myers picked up his 14th save with two strikeouts in the ninth.

'Kyle did a great job out there and our bats did just enough to win the game for us,' said Myers of Lohse and the offense. 'He (Lohse) did his job tonight, and we need good starting pitching to get to the back of our bullpen so we can have a chance to win the game.'

Buddy Carlyle (8-6) dropped his third straight decision to the Phillies, lasting just 1 2/3 frames while surrendering three runs on four hits with three walks and one strikeout.

Chipper Jones drove in both runs, including a solo home run, for the Braves, who have lost four of five games. Atlanta now sits a whopping 8 1/2 games behind the Mets.

'We had opportunities to score some runs,' said Andruw Jones. 'We just couldn't get hits.'

The Phillies struck first with two outs in the first. After a pair of fly balls off the bats of Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, Pat Burrell worked a walk and Howard smashed a breaking ball into the left-center field seats for a 2-0 lead.

Rowand doubled down the left-field line and Greg Dobbs walked before Jayson Werth struck out to begin a general theme of stranded runners throughout the early portion of the contest.

The Phillies left the bases full in the second when Rowand struck out then two more runners were stationed at second and third the following frame before Rollins flew out to Andruw Jones in center.

Atlanta had a threat in the home half of the frame after Yunel Escobar reached second when his tailing line drive slipped out of the glove of a charging Werth tight to the right-field line. He was erased when Ruiz threw behind the runner to pick him off at second base.

Chipper Jones' solo home run in the bottom of the fourth got Atlanta on the board, but the Phillies answered in the top of the fifth when Rowand singled, moved to third on pinch-hitter Wes Helms' double and scored on Ruiz's sacrifice fly.

The Braves drew within 4-2 in the bottom of the inning as three straight singles loaded the bases with nobody out. Lohse limited the damage, getting Willie Harris' to pop out to second and Kelly Johnson to pop out to third before Chipper Jones walked to force in a run.

Mark Teixeira hit a smash right at Utley in shallow right field for the frame's final out.

The Phillies added an insurance run in the ninth on Rowand's run-scoring single.

Game Notes

Chipper Jones' dead center field shot in the fourth moved him into a tie with Yogi Berra for 66th on the all-time home run list with 358...Lohse is 2-0 in seven starts since coming over in the trade from Cincinnati...Andruw Jones finished 3-for-4 with a run scored...Before the game, the Phillies made a trio of roster moves, claiming Pete LaForest off waivers from San Diego and recalling right-handed pitchers Geoff Geary and John Ennis from Triple-A Richmond...Attendance 22,130.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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