BURRELL'S LATE HOMER LIFTS PHILS OVER HOUSTON

Houston, TX - Pat Burrell hit a go-ahead pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth inning, and the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Houston Astros, 7-5, in the opener of a three-game set.

Ryan Howard continued to heat up from his season-long slump, going 3-for-5 with a solo homer, two runs batted in and three runs scored for the Phillies, who won their third straight. Chad Durbin (1-1) got the win for a scoreless inning of relief after Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick gave up eight hits and five runs in five-plus frames.

(ap.com)