Howard, Werth power Phillies past Astros 9-6

[April 20, 2010]  HOUSTON (AP) -- Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth drove in three runs apiece, and the Philadelphia Phillies' offense rolled again Saturday night in a 9-6 win over Houston that sent the Astros to their worst start in 27 years.

The Phillies finished with 11 hits and have reached double digits in their first five games for the first time since 1926. Philadelphia leads the majors with 41 runs.

Jamie Moyer (1-0), baseball's oldest player at 47, became the sixth-oldest pitcher to appear in a game and the eighth to start one in four decades. He allowed five runs and nine hits in six innings.

Jason Michaels and Hunter Pence homered off Moyer for the Astros, who are 0-5 for the first time since the 1983 team lost its first nine games.

Moyer left with the Phillies trailing 5-4, but they regained the lead in the seventh against Brandon Lyon (0-1).

Chase Utley drew a two-out walk before Howard hammered a 2-1 pitch off the facade in left-center for his third homer of the season. Three straight singles by Werth, Raul Ibanez and Victorino made it 7-5.

Werth singled and Victorino homered in the ninth off Astros closer Matt Lindstrom. Houston scored a run in the ninth off Ryan Madson.

Howard led off the second inning with a triple to left off Felipe Paulino. The ball banged off the metal scoreboard and ricocheted off left fielder Carlos Lee's shoulder. Athletic trainer Nate Lucero and manager Brad Mills jogged out to check on Lee, but he stayed in the game.

Werth followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center for a 1-0 lead.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the third, and Paulino walked in a run when he missed high and away with a 3-2 pitch to Howard. Werth then lined a two-run double to the left-field corner, prompting early boos from the home crowd.

Moyer retired his first eight batters before Paulino doubled off the right-field wall, his second career hit.

Michaels drove Moyer's next pitch into the left-field seats, the Astros' first home run of the season. Jeff Keppinger walked before Pence tied it 4-all with a homer to left. Pence had only one hit in his previous 17 at-bats this season.

The Astros loaded the bases and took their first lead of the season when Placido Polanco bobbled Tommy Manzella's sharp grounder to third, allowing Lee to score on the infield single.

Chris Sampson relieved Paulino before the sixth inning. Paulino threw 110 pitches.

NOTES: Phillies closer Brad Lidge allowed four runs and three hits for Class-A Clearwater against Dunedin, his first rehab outing since elbow surgery. Lidge threw 20 pitches and retired only two batters. Left-hander J.C. Romero, also coming off elbow surgery, threw a scoreless inning in the same game with two strikeouts. ... The Astros and Phillies wore throwback uniforms commemorating the first regular-season game played at the Houston Astrodome, on April 12, 1965. Philadelphia won that one 2-0. ... All-Star slugger Lance Berkman will skip Houston's first road trip to get more treatment on his injured left knee. The team said Berkman will work with physical therapist Matt Holland in Houston while the Astros visit St. Louis and Chicago next week. Berkman had arthroscopic surgery on March 13 and has been on the disabled list since March 31.

[Associated Press; By CHRIS DUNCAN]

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