MILWAUKEE, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Ryan Howard's three-run homer gave Roy Halladay an early cushion Friday and the Philadelphia Phillies survived a rough ninth inning to down Milwaukee 5-3.
Howard hit his 32nd homer of the season with Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence aboard. Howard began the night two behind Albert Pujols of St. Louis for the National League home run lead.
Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz added RBI singles in the seventh to give Philadelphia a 5-0 lead.
Halladay (17-5) gave up a run in the seventh inning and wound up going eight while giving up four hits and striking out nine. He reached 204 strikeouts for the season, giving him at least 200 for the fourth straight year.
Shaun Marcus (12-6) was charged with the setback, surrendering five runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.
With the Phillies owning a four-run lead, Antonio Bastardo was sent out in the ninth to finish things off in a non-save situation. He put the first two batters on base, however, and closer Ryan Madson was called on to cool off the Brewers.
Milwaukee eventually came up with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, but Madson was credited with his 29th save.
