Utley extends HR streak, fuels Phillies' comeback

Now that there's no playoff pressure, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Colorado Rockies with relative ease.

Chase Utley homered for the fifth straight game, Jason Werth hit an inside-the-park home run, and Philadelphia rallied for a 9-5 win over host Colorado on Monday night in the first meeting between the teams since the Rockies' first-round sweep last October.

Utley hit his major-league-leading ninth home run -- his sixth in five games. He became the fourth player in Philadelphia franchise history to homer in five straight games. Bobby Abreu was the last to do it on May 8-12, 2005.

The all-star second baseman became the first major-leaguer to homer in five straight games since the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez from Sept. 4-9 last year, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Garrett Atkins and Yorvit Torrealba homered for the Rockies, who blew an eighth-inning lead for the second straight day.

The Phillies mounted the winning rally off Taylor Buchholz (1-1) with two outs and no one on. Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell singled, and Pedro Feliz walked. Brian Fuentes came on in relief, and Carlos Ruiz doubled down the right-field line to drive in 2 runs.

Philadelphia added 3 runs in the top of the ninth off Micah Bowie on doubles by Werth and T.J. Bohn. Rudy Seanez (2-1) got the win in relief.

The Rockies jumped out to the early lead in the second. Brad Hawpe started the inning with a double to left-center, and Clint Barmes followed with a bloop single to left. Torrealba hit a 2-1 pitch into the left-field bleachers to make it 3-0. It was his second home run of the season.

Struggling Troy Tulowitzki had a tough night, making the final out of the second, fourth and sixth innings with runners in scoring position. He went 0-for-5 to lower his average to .165.

The Phillies scored twice in the fourth. Howard, who came into the game hitting .185, singled to right with two outs and Burrell followed with his seventh homer of the season to make it 3-2.

Colorado got the runs back when Garrett Atkins hit his fourth homer of the season, a 2-run shot into left field with one out in the fifth.

The Phillies rallied in the sixth. Werth hit a drive to deep center that Taveras couldn't get off the carom, and he beat the relay throw to home. Utley followed with a home run to make it 5-4 and chase starter Mark Redman.

The Rockies loaded the bases on an error and two walks in the third, but Utley's diving stop of Barmes' grounder up the middle started an inning-ending double play.

Braves 7, Nationals 3: Tim Hudson pitched 6 scoreless innings before tiring and drove in 2 runs, leading host Atlanta past Washington for the Braves' fifth straight win. The Braves have allowed only 6 runs during their winning streak, which pushed them above .500 for the first time this season at 10-9.

Cardinals 4, Brewers 3: Skip Schumaker doubled in the go-ahead run in the ninth, and St. Louis overcame a fielding blunder in the eighth to beat host Milwaukee in the opener of a two-game set. Brian Barton, who pinch hit for reliever Ryan Franklin, doubled off embattled Brewers reliever Derrick Turnbow (0-1) to start the inning, and Schumaker drove him in with a double to the wall after a sacrifice bunt.

Astros 10, Padres 3: Roy Oswalt (2-3) won consecutive starts for the first time since August, and Miguel Tejada and Lance Berkman drove in 3 runs each to lead host Houston over San Diego.

Oswalt allowed 3 runs and 6 hits in 7 innings as the Astros won their second straight following a three-game losing streak. Oswalt was 6-0 over 8 starts from July 20 to Sept. 3, then went 0-4 in 6 starts before winning at Philadelphia on April 16.

Dodgers 9, Reds 3: Nomar Garciaparra hit his first home run since Sept. 14 and drove in 3 runs, Brad Penny stayed perfect at Great American Ball Park, and Los Angeles beat Cincinnati.

Rafael Furcal also homered, and James Loney added 3 RBI for the Dodgers, who equaled their season high with 15 hits after scoring 1 run in each of their 3 losses at Atlanta last weekend.

Marlins 10, Pirates 4: Hanley Ramirez, Josh Willingham and Dan Uggla homered and Mark Hendrickson, normally one of the majors' worst hitters, had 2 hits while pitching 8 innings in Florida's win over slumping host Pittsburgh.

Ramirez hit a 2-run homer during a 4-run second inning against Matt Morris (0-3), giving him 3 homers in two games. Willingham added a 2-run drive as Florida scored three more times in the third to make it 7-2.

Diamondbacks 4, Giants 2: Eric Byrnes hit the go-ahead, 2-run homer, and Micah Owings (4-0) became the season's third four-game winner when host Arizona beat San Francisco.

Mark Reynolds and Orlando Hudson hit solo home runs as the Diamondbacks improved their major-league-best record to 14-5. Arizona is 13-3 against NL West foes.