Phillies 5, Braves 3
Roy Halladay pitched seven solid innings to become the first 20-game winner in the National League and Jayson Werth belted a three-run homer as the Philadelphia Phillies increased their division lead over the Atlanta Braves to five games with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night.
Raul Ibanez doubled twice and drove in a pair of runs for Philadelphia, which extended its winning streak to a season-high nine games and reduced its magic number for a fourth straight division crown to six.
Halladay (20-10) allowed three runs and seven hits en route to becoming the first Phillie to reach the 20-win plateau since Steve Carlton in 1982. The 33-year old, who has won 20 twice in the last three years and three times in his career, walked two and struck out three in improving to 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in three starts against Atlanta this season.
Ryan Madson tossed a scoreless eighth before Brad Lidge worked around a leadoff single in the ninth for his 25th save in 30 opportunities.
Philadelphia, which has won eight in a row at home and 17 of 20 overall this month, stranded two runners in each of the first two innings before breaking through in the third.
Placido Polanco drew a leadoff walk from Mike Minor (3-2) and Chase Utley singled before Ryan Howard flied out. Werth then crushed a 2-1 offering into the seats in left-center field for his 25th blast of the year and a 3-0 lead.
Pinch-hitter Eric Hinske plated a run with a groundout in the fifth and the Braves threatened to at least tie the game in the sixth as Martin Prado led off with a single and Brian McCann doubled. Derrek Lee lifted a sacrifice fly to score Prado, but Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino threw out McCann at third to keep it a 3-2 game.
Ibanez pushed Philadelphia's advantage back to three with a two-out, two-run double in the sixth. The runs proved crucial as pinch-hitter Freddie Freeman launched his first career homer, a solo shot, in the seventh to get Atlanta within 5-3.
Minor lasted just 2 1/3 innings, surrendering three runs and seven hits. The left-hander was making just his eighth career start and is 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA in his last four outings.