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09/08/10 09:50:00
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09/08 21:48 CDT Howard has 6 RBIs in Phillies' win
Howard has 6 RBIs in Phillies' win
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Ryan Howard homered and had six RBIs and the Philadelphia
Phillies backed Cole Hamels with a rare burst of the run support he had been
missing most of the season in a 10-6 win over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday
night.
Howard hit his 28th homer of the season and the NL East-leading Phillies had a
season-high 18 hits.
Hamels (10-10) tossed four-hit ball over seven innings and extended his
consecutive scoreless innings streak to 25. He struck out five and won his
third straight start.
His record would be well over .500 if not for receiving the fourth-lowest run
support (3.18 runs per start) of any starter this season entering the game.
He got plenty in Philadelphia's third straight win.
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins left with tightness in his right hamstring. He
is day-to-day.
Gaby Sanchez hit a three-run homer for the Marlins as part of a six-run eighth
off Nate Robertson.
Hamels was sensational and earned a standing ovation when he struck out Brad
Davis to end the seventh. Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, might have 15 wins
by now if the Phillies had some pop in their bats in his starts.
The Phillies were shut out in four of his starts - including consecutive 1-0
losses in early August. The Phillies entered having scored only 19 runs in
Hamels' last 11 starts. They scored two or fewer runs in 13 of his first 28
starts.
They tried to make it up to him from the start Wednesday, scoring runs in each
of the first five innings and staked him to a 10-0 lead.
Howard did the bulk of the damage against Andrew Miller (1-1). He had a two-run
single in the first inning and went deep with an opposite-field, three-run shot
to left in the fourth that made it 7-0.
Miller was long gone when Howard's line-drive single to right in the seventh
put the Phillies ahead 10-0. Howard was batting .188 in 16 games since
returning from the disabled list on Aug. 21.
Put in perspective, the Phillies scored 10 runs combined in Hamels' last six
starts.
Hamels never really groused about his lack of support and kept giving the
Phillies the kind of quality starts that has them convinced they can make
another deep October run. The Phillies started the day a half-game ahead of
Atlanta in the NL East as they make a run toward their fourth straight division
title.
The Phillies don't know if they will have to move on without Rollins.
Rollins - who has slumped so badly this season he was dropped from leadoff to
sixth in the batting order - gingerly ran to second base and didn't slide on a
two-out double in the third. He didn't have his usual burst around third base
when he scored on Carlos Ruiz's single.
Rollins slid at home and slowly walked back to the dugout. He had his head down
as he talked with manager Charlie Manuel. Rollins was 2 for 2 and was replaced
by Wilson Valdez.
The three-time All-Star shortstop has twice been on the 15-day disabled list
this season because of a calf problem. He got hurt warming up before the
Phillies' home opener and missed 31 games, then re-injured himself less than a
week later on May 21.
Chase Utley had two RBIs for the Phillies.
NOTES: Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez was held out of the starting lineup with a
sore back. ... Marlins RHP Josh Johnson has right shoulder inflammation and a
strained mid-back, making it unclear when the All-Star will return to the
mound. There was no structural damage found and he will rejoin the Marlins on
Friday for a series in Washington, but the team has not decided when he might
pitch again. ... Phillies closer Brad Lidge was unavailable because of a tender
right elbow. Pitching coach Rich Dubee says he's "very confident" Lidge will be
ready by Friday. ... Phillies rookie OF Domonic Brown is day-to-day with a
strained right quadriceps.
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