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Phils get 1st home victory

Rollins, Burrell, Utley and the bullpen got the job done.

Phillies centerfielder Aaron Rowand, above, makes a diving catch on an Adam Everett fly in the fourth inning. At left, the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins celebrates his two-run home run in the fourth.
Phillies centerfielder Aaron Rowand, above, makes a diving catch on an Adam Everett fly in the fourth inning. At left, the Phillies' Jimmy Rollins celebrates his two-run home run in the fourth.Read more

Home is supposed to be comfortable.

It's supposed to be fun.

But the Phillies haven't felt particularly cozy at Citizens Bank Park this season. There haven't been a lot of moments for the scrapbook, either. The Atlanta Braves swept them here to start the season, and the Houston Astros beat them here again Friday.

The Phillies needed to beat the Astros yesterday to avoid their first 0-5 start at home since 1977. They also needed to win to avoid their worst overall start in 61 years, when they opened the 1946 season at 2-9.

They won, 8-5.

"It's rough to lose, but when you're losing in front of your fans every night, it makes it even rougher, especially in this city," shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. "But we gave them something to cheer about today."

The fans could use a few more days like yesterday.

The team could use them even more.

"Our backs are against the wall, and I think everybody in here knows it," leftfielder Pat Burrell said. "I think there was a little more intensity today."

"Did you feel it?" first baseman Ryan Howard said. "It was good. We got down and we fought back. We didn't give up at all."

Phillies lefthander Cole Hamels allowed eight hits and five runs in six innings after he allowed just two earned runs in 13 innings in his previous two starts. So, naturally, he picked up his first win of the season.

"You put out some good starts and you don't get wins and, unfortunately, my first win comes on a start that I'm not too pleased with," Hamels said. "Luckily, the team played well for me."

The Phillies are just 3-8, so there haven't been many bright spots. But yesterday, there were glimpses of what the summer could be like if the Phillies ever pull themselves together. Here are a few of them:

Rollins continues to prove himself as one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball. He hit his National League-leading sixth home run in the fourth inning - a two-run homer to right field - to make it 4-4.

Rollins is hitting .298 with six homers and 11 RBIs. He has a .411 on-base percentage and a .766 slugging percentage.

Rollins entered the season a career .263 hitter in March and April. He credits his hot bat in this chilly month to maturity.

"He's hitting the ball good. He's hitting with power," manager Charlie Manuel said. "Keep hitting, Jimmy. We need all we can get."

Houston intentionally walked Howard in the sixth inning - the second of three times the Astros intentionally walked him - and Burrell followed with a broken bat single to left to score a run to hand the Phillies a two-run lead.

Burrell is 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs after teams intentionally walk Howard this season.

"That's the position you want to be in," Burrell said. "I was able to get a hit and score a run for us. It's important. Those are the big things. It's not an issue when we're up by five runs. But we've been playing tight games lately, and, for now, it's huge. It needs to continue to work out that way."

"I have faith in Pat," Howard said. "He's going to shock a lot of people this year."

Chase Utley, who was 2 for 18 entering yesterday, went 3 for 5 with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs.

The Phillies' bullpen threw three scoreless innings Francisco Rosario made his Phillies debut in a scoreless seventh, setup man Antonio Alfonseca threw a scoreless eighth, and closer Tom Gordon survived a couple of walks to pick up his second save of the season.

"Wins like this definitely get our confidence back and get life back into us," Hamels said. "After today, I definitely think we're going to go into next week and play our game."