By WRBL Staff
The Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) - Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies survived a ninth-inning scare to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-3 tonight.The Associated Press
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Stumble It!The Phillies improved to 5-0 in Atlanta this season and 7-1 overall in the season series.
The Braves fell a season-worst five games under .500 with their second straight loss in the series, despite homers from Chipper Jones and Ruben Gotay.
Jones, playing his second game after missing eight straight starts with a strained right quadriceps, hit his 17th homer off J.C. Romero in the eighth, cutting the Phillies' lead to 5-3.
The Phillies answered with two runs in the ninth. Jimmy Rollins' triple drove in Eric Bruntlett, and Chase Utley added a run-scoring single.
Pat Burrell added his 21st homer in the fifth inning after Howard's three-run shot gave the Phillies a 4-0 lead in the third.
The Braves loaded the bases against Brad Lidge in the ninth on one hit and two fielding errors by Howard at first base. Pinch-hitter Greg Norton hit a one-out single, moved to second when Howard couldn't snag Gregor Blanco's sharp grounder for an error. With two outs, Howard couldn't handle a grounder from Jones for his second error, loading the bases.
Lidge struck out Mark Teixeira to end the game.
