Phillies Avoid Sweep

The Philadelphia Phillies found an effective leadoff hitter just in time to avoid a costly sweep.

Shane Victorino scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning after working a key walk, and Brett Myers won for the first time in more than a month, leading the Phillies to a 5-3 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday at New York.

“Today is big because it’s the Mets,” Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel said. “They’re in first place in our division and we’re trying to stay with them.”

Victorino batted leadoff because slumping shortstop Jimmy Rollins was dropped from the top spot for the first time this season. Filling in for injured Aaron Rowand, the speedy center fielder reached base twice and is batting .349 in 83 at-bats.

The Phillies, who won for only the second time in nine games, trimmed New York’s lead in the NL East to four games. Bobby Abreu and Ryan Howard each homered and drove in two runs.

Myers (3-2) threw 119 pitches in seven innings, yielding eight hits and striking out six. Betrayed by poor run support and some shaky defense, the right-hander hadn’t won in five starts since April 23 against Florida.

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Washington 8, Houston 5 -- Jose Vidro hit a three-run homer and the Nationals won despite seven stolen bases by the visiting Astros.

Tony Armas won his fifth straight decision, Nick Johnson broke an 0-for-16 slump, leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano scored three runs, and rookie Ryan Zimmerman had three RBIs.

Armas (5-2) had an adventure nearly every inning, but he was saved twice by Zimmerman. The third baseman ranged to his left to start a double play to end a bases-loaded threat in the first and caught Preston Wilson’s liner down the line to save a run in the fifth.

The Astros ran at will on third-string catcher Matthew LeCroy, who committed two throwing errors. The last time Houston had seven stolen bases was April 13, 1999, at San Francisco. The Florida Marlins were the last team in the majors to steal that many, on May 27, 2002, at New York.