Howard, Utley hit consecutive HRs to lead Phillies over Gonzalez, Padres, 5-3

Howard, Utley hit consecutive HRs to lead Phillies

SAN DIEGO — Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit consecutive home runs in the fifth inning and Philadelphia beat Adrian Gonzalez and the San Diego Padres 5-3 on Monday night, the Phillies’ fourth straight win.

Gonzalez hit his major league-leading 21st homer in the sixth inning, followed by Scott Hairston’s shot that pulled the Padres to 4-3. The Phillies got an insurance run in the eighth when pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs doubled with one out and scored on Shane Victorino’s two-out bloop double.

Hairston came up with one out in the ninth and Gonzalez on first, and flied out to left against Brad Lidge. Lidge got the final three outs for his 13th save in 17 chances.

Victorino and Utley had two RBIs apiece in the opener of a three-game series. Howard struck out four times.

San Diego surprised the defending World Series champions by taking two of three games at Philadelphia in mid-April. The fourth game was rained out and was rescheduled for July 23.

Utley homered down the right-field line on a 1-1 pitch from Kevin Correia leading off the fifth, his 12th. Howard followed by hitting a towering shot to straightaway center, his 15th, to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead.

Gonzalez homered to left-center on a 1-0 pitch from Joe Blanton with two outs in the sixth. Hairston drove a 1-1 pitch into the seats in left, his eighth.

Howard and Gonzalez were named the NL’s Co-Player of the Week earlier Monday.

Blanton (4-3) won his third straight start, allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Correia (1-4) allowed four runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Correia allowed leadoff doubles in the first to Jimmy Rollins and in the second to Raul Ibanez but neither scored.

The first four Phillies batters reached in the third. Blanton walked, Rollins singled and Victorino and Utley hit RBI singles.