--1B Ryan Howard extended his hitting streak to eight games with a third-inning single and appears to be emerging from the worst slump of his career, a malaise that caused him to get booed during the Phillies' last homestand. "I can't control that," said Howard, batting .290 (9-for-31) with three homers during the streak. "It bothers you a little bit. First off, I think the competitive nature in yourself, you want to go out there and get the job done. It definitely doesn't help when the fans kind of get on you, but at the same time, that's what happens when you sign a permission slip to play in Philly. You know how the fans are. If you don't go out there and perform, you know how the fans are going to be."

--C Chris Coste went 1-for-4, giving him eight hits over his last 17 at-bats -- all with his unorthodox swing. Coste said he developed the lunging swing during the mid-1990s by playing fast-pitch softball after finishing his college season at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. "I played on some national, actually world, championship teams," said Coste, a shortstop on the Fargo, N.D.-based team. "When you play at that level, you've got to be ready to hit because that ball is flying in at you from 45 feet away or whatever." Coste said he faced the top five pitchers in the world in one season. So, could he hit Jennie Finch? "No question," he said.

--RF Geoff Jenkins, a left-handed hitter, rarely starts against left-handed pitchers, and with the Phillies facing five straight lefties through Friday night, he had not been in the lineup since May 10 in San Francisco. He also received only one pinch hit at-bat. So pardon Jenkins if he feels like a forgotten man. "I've been to Pittsburgh, where it's been lefty, lefty, righty, lefty during a four-game set, but nothing like this," he said, a grin creeping across his face. "Five in a row, that's never happened. We're going through a little barrage of lefties here. You want to be out there, but it's just one of those weird parts of the season."

--LHP Jamie Moyer tossed 6 2/3 strong innings to win his 233rd major league game and move into a tie with Charlie Buffinton for 58th place on the all-time wins list. Moyer also posted his fifth quality start in nine starts for the Phillies, allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out five batters.

BY THE NUMBERS
183 -- Road victories for the Phillies since the start of the 2004 season, most in the NL.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"He gets us going. He charges us up. For a short period of time, guys like (Jimmy) Rollins and (Chase) Utley can be replaced. Over a long time, it's a different story." -- Manager Charlie Manuel on SS Jimmy Rollins' return to the Phillies' lineup after missing time with a sprained left ankle.

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