Ryan Howard and the defending champs are back in the World Series — proving last year was no fluke and looking even more dangerous this time around.

Jayson Werth homered twice, Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz also connected and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 in Game 5 on Wednesday night to win their second straight NL pennant.

Brad Lidge closed it out, Howard was selected NL championship series MVP and the Phillies became the first team to reach consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees in 2000-01.

“I can get used to it,” manager Charlie Manuel told a cheering crowd. “We got one more step and we’re going to get it!”

Now, Jimmy Rollins and crew wait for their next opponent. They’ll go for their third World Series title beginning next Wednesday night at New York or Los Angeles. The Yankees lead the Angels 3-1 in the ALCS, which resumes Thursday night at Angel Stadium.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

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In a series where offense has been hard to come by, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has supplied plenty of it in key moments. After his performance at Turner Field on Sunday, the Braves will certainly be happy to see him leave town.

As if his ninth-inning home run on Friday wasn’t enough, Howard drove in four runs with two homers on Sunday to give Philadelphia a 4-1 victory after a one-hour and 37-minute rain delay for a series win and putting its National League East lead to 4 1/2 games. Howard’s three-run homer in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie and Atlanta would never recover.

Howard started the game’s scoring with a solo homer in the second off Braves starter Javier Vazquez, but Atlanta would answer in the bottom half of the fourth inning with a solo home run by Matt Diaz.

Click here to read the full article – By Adam Rosenberg of MLB.com

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Brad Lidge couldn’t contain the excitement many of his teammates felt Wednesday.

Lee boosted a rotation that has pitched much better recently. The Phillies also got outfielder Ben Francisco, who improved a bench that needed a right-handed bat. Combine an improved rotation and bench with the best offense and one of the best defenses in the National League, and the Phillies could be considered favorites to reach the World Series once more.

Click here to read the full article – By Todd Zolecki of MLB.com

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The home runs keep on coming. So do the home wins.

Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez all hit two-run shots Sunday, and Joe Blanton extended his two months of dominance, as the Phillies beat the Cardinals, 9-2, for their fifth straight series victory at Citizens Bank Park. With a 5-2 homestand, the Phillies improved to a season-high 16 games over .500. They have won 14 of their past 16 in Philadelphia and have 138 home runs, by far the most in the National League. Colorado is second with 113 through Saturday.

Click here to read the full article – By David Gurian-Peck of MLB.com

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Cubs starter Ted Lilly almost wiggled out of a tough first-inning jam.

With men on second and third, first baseman Derrek Lee made a nice stab on Chase Utley’s hard grounder, checking the runners before stepping on the bag. Ryan Howard struck out. Raul Ibanez was down to his final strike. Then Lilly left a 2-2 fastball down the middle of the plate. Ibanez crushed it.

Click here to read the full article – By David Gurian-Peck of MLB.com

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Ryan Howard’s unfamiliar with the Hall of Famer he surpassed by reaching a home run milestone Thursday night.

The Philadelphia Phillies slugger hit his 200th home run, achieving the total in fewer games than any player in major league history. Ralph Kiner, who played in the 1940s and ’50s, previously held the record. Howard achieved the feat in his 658th game, hitting his 23rd homer of the season in the sixth inning of a 4-0 win over Florida. Kiner hit No. 200 in his 706th game.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

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To repeat, first-place club’s starting pitching must improve

The Phillies enter the second half of their season Thursday in Florida in first place in the National League East. In many ways, it is easy to see why. They have one of the best offenses in baseball and have played great defense. Five of their everyday players earned a spot on the National League All-Star team: Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth. It was just the fifth time in franchise history the Phillies had five players at the All-Star Game.

Click here to read the full article – By Todd Zolecki of MLB.com

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Ryan Howard said he wanted to hit just one out, just one home run in front of the hometown crowd. And this was his hometown crowd.

Howard, who grew up just outside St. Louis, hit 15 home runs in two rounds Monday night in the State Farm Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium. His seven homers in the first round advanced him to the semifinals with Nelson Cruz, Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols, but his eight homers in the semifinals were not enough to reach the finals for the second time in his three Derby appearances.

Click here to read the full article – By Todd Zolecki of MLB.com

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Phillies slugger Ryan Howard could return to the lineup Tuesday at Tampa Bay after being hospitalized over the weekend with flu symptoms.

The team said on Monday that he has acute sinusitis. Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a statement that Howard was resting at home and would rejoin the team for the three-game series if he felt well enough. Howard missed Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Baltimore, ending his consecutive games streak at 343. It was the longest active streak in the majors. The 2006 NL MVP went to the hospital hours after Friday’s game. He wasn’t expected to play Saturday, but delivered a pinch-hit, three-run homer in Philadelphia’s 6-5 loss to the Orioles. Howard was hospitalized again Saturday and wasn’t at the ballpark on Sunday

Click here for the full article by the Associated Press June 22, 2009

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