MLB: Philadelphia 9, Atlanta 4

ATLANTA, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Ryan Howard hit two of Philadelphia's four home runs Friday and the Phillies won their sixth straight game with a 9-4 decision over Atlanta.

Philadelphia halted Atlanta's seven-game winning streak.

The Phillies hope to all but clinch the National League East title during this three-game series.They emerged from the evening's action leading Florida by eight games in the division. Atlanta fell back into third place, 8 1/2 games behind the Phillies.

Howard ran his home run total to 40 with a two-run shot in the fourth and a solo blast in the sixth.

The Phillies had only a 5-3 lead going into the ninth, but Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer in that inning and Ben Francisco added a solo shot to break the game open.

Philadelphia rookie J.A. Happ was removed after three innings and the win went to reliever Kyle Kendrick (3-1), who worked four frames without giving up a run.

Tim Hudson (1-1), who has missed most of the season following arm surgery, started his fourth game of the year and took the loss by allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings. He threw just 87 pitches.