Phillies End Mets’ Winning Streak

NEW YORK -- Ryan Howard hit his National League-leading 45th home run and made a key diving stop for the Philadelphia Phillies, who ended the New York Mets’ seven-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory Friday night.

Randy Wolf and the Philadelphia bullpen also stopped the Mets’ 11-game winning string at Shea Stadium, their best streak at home since September 1995.

The Phillies won without Manager Charlie Manuel, who was ejected in the sixth inning. Carlos Beltran hit his 37th homer, doubled and drove in three runs for the Mets, who lead the NL East.

Howard drove in three runs, giving him a league-leading 117 runs batted in. He had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and hit a two-run homer in the third.

In the bottom of the third, Howard came off the bag at first base to make a diving play on Shawn Green’s hard grounder with runners at the corners.

Wolf (3-0) gave up three runs and five hits over five innings. He made only his sixth start of the season after having Tommy John surgery in July 2005.

Phillies relievers Geoff Geary, Arthur Rhodes and Ryan Madson combined for four scoreless innings.

Brian Bannister (2-1) lost in his first game for the Mets since injuring his hamstring in April.

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at San Francisco 4, Cincinnati 1: Matt Morris hit a two-run double in the eighth inning and pitched a three-hitter, retiring 18 consecutive batters to finish his second complete game of the season and 20th of his career.

at Colorado 13, San Diego 5: Brad Hawpe hit his first home run at Coors Field since May 16, a span of 40 games, giving the Rockies a 7-5 lead with his two-run shot in the fifth.

Washington 7, at Atlanta 6: Austin Kearns hit a three-run homer in the seventh for the Nationals, who trailed 4-2 until putting up four runs against the Braves’ bullpen.

at St. Louis 2, Chicago 0: Jeff Suppan pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning for the Cardinals, overcoming three balls that rookie left fielder Chris Duncan misplayed into doubles.

Houston 5, at Pittsburgh 1: Roger Clemens got his 347th victory, winning his fourth in a row but for the first time in 684 starts in Pittsburgh.

at Florida 6, Milwaukee 5: Mike Jacobs drove in three runs, including a bases-loaded double in the third to help the Marlins overcome a 5-2 deficit.