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Phillies beat Giants to earn 6th straight victory

Posted on: Friday, 5 May 2006, 23:22 CDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The streaking Philadelphia Phillies won their sixth consecutive game with an 8-3 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday in Philadelphia, moving them above .500 for the first time this season.

Ryan Howard and Chase Utley both homered twice while Gavin Floyd pitched six strong innings for the win and helped shut down Barry Bonds, who went 0-for-3 as he continues his pursuit of Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time home run list.

Bonds also drew an intentional walk and was booed lustily by the Phillies fans before being lifted in the eighth inning.

Fans chanted "Just retire! Just retire!" at Bonds from left field while one sign read "CHEATER" in the stands.

"I thought it was fine. Nothing wrong with it," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel told reporters.

"The fans create a lot of energy. It helps much more than you might think, and I think it helped our team tonight."

Bonds left the ballpark before reporters had a chance to enter the San Francisco clubhouse after the game.

Omar Vizquel and Randy Winn hit home runs for the Giants, who lost outfielder Moises Alou with an ankle injury.

Alou had to be carried off the field but the Giants said it was only a right ankle sprain. Team officials said x-rays were negative, but Alou may still miss considerable time.

HOT PUJOLS

Floyd (3-2) allowed three runs and scattered nine hits, striking out two and walking three, before three relievers each pitched one inning of hitless relief.

The Phillies (15-14) pounded out 13 hits off four Giants pitchers, with Utley finishing with three hits, three runs scored and three RBI.

Howard and Aaron Rowand added two hits for the Phillies, who broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the third on Howard's solo home run to stay ahead for good.

Mark Sweeney and Vizquel both had two of the Giants nine hits, as San Francisco moved a game under .500 (14-15) with its second straight loss. The Giants have also lost five of their past six.

Starter Matt Cain (1-4) took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits over four innings. Cain struck out four and walked three and gave up four of Philadelphia's five home runs.

In Miami, Albert Pujols hit his 16th home run of the season as the St. Louis Cardinals scored seven runs in the fifth inning to beat the Florida Marlins 7-2.

Pujols hit a three-run homer and Gary Bennett drove in a pair of runs for the Cards. Jeff Suppan (3-2) allowed two runs on five hits over 8 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking three.

Sergio Mitre (1-4) allowed seven runs - six earned - on 11 hits with five strikeouts and two walks over 4 1/3 innings.

(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto)

Source: REUTERS

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