Hudson drives in four runs as D-Backs' run continues

Diamondbacks 11, Phillies 5

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Once Ryan Howard grabbed his leg and came up limping after diving for a grounder, it hardly mattered the Philadelphia Phillies were on their way to a loss.

Exhale Phillies fans: It's only a cramp.

Orlando Hudson drove in four runs on four hits, Micah Owings pitched five effective innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Philadelphia 11-5 on Tuesday night for their sixth straight win.

The Phillies could hardly afford to lose Howard again. The reigning NL MVP missed two weeks with a quad injury that began bothering him in spring training, and had three homers in five games since coming off the disabled list last Friday.

"My leg is fine," said Howard, who came out two batters after he got hurt. "I know what to do. I had to stretch it out."

The Diamondbacks lost rookie third baseman Mark Reynolds to a neck contusion, though he's listed as day-to-day after getting X-rays.

"He'll probably need a day off," manager Bob Melvin said. "He's a tough kid."

Owings (4-1) gave up one run and seven hits. He tripled off the right-field wall with two outs in the fifth and didn't come out for the sixth.

Arizona got five runs off starter Jon Lieber (2-3) in the second inning and five unearned runs against reliever Geoff Geary in the eighth.

Reynolds collided with pitcher Brandon Medders on Michael Bourn's bunt single leading off the seventh. Medders' knee appeared to hit the side of Reynolds' head as he leaped to avoid contact. Reynolds fell to the grass and stayed there for a few minutes before being helped off the field by two trainers.

"I remember going for the ball and the next thing I know I was laying on the ground," Reynolds said.

Reynolds is hitting .420 (21-for-50) with three homers and 13 RBIs since being called up from Double-A Mobile.

"I don't want to be another Wally Pipp," he said.

A night after closer Jose Valverde turned a four-run lead into a one-run game in the ninth, the Diamondbacks' middle relievers let the Phillies chip away in the seventh.

After Bourn's bunt hit, Shane Victorino walked to chase Medders. Doug Slaten came in to face Chase Utley, who delivered a two-run single off the left-hander after the runners advanced on a passed ball by catcher Miguel Montero.

Slaten left after walking Howard. But Tony Pena entered and retired Pat Burrell on a double-play grounder to third base.

Errors by shortstop Jimmy Rollins and third baseman Greg Dobbs helped the Diamondbacks put the game out of reach in the eighth.

Hudson had a two-run single with two outs and Stephen Drew cleared the bases with a triple.

"We didn't play very good," manager Charlie Manuel said.

The Phillies fell back to .500 with their second straight loss after sweeping a three-game series in Atlanta.

Lieber allowed five runs and 13 hits in 6 2/3 innings. The Diamondbacks pounded Lieber for seven hits in the second. Drew led off with a single and Chris Young doubled. Alberto Callaspo's sacrifice fly to right drove in the first run. With a drawn-in infield, Montero singled to right to make it 2-0.

After Owings fanned for the second out, Eric Byrnes singled and Conor Jackson followed with an RBI double. Hudson and Reynolds hit consecutive run-scoring singles for a 5-0 lead.

Dobbs hit a solo shot in the eighth.

The Phillies were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Game notes
Injured Phillies reliever Tom Gordon played catch for the first time since going on the disabled list early this month with a rotator cuff strain. Gordon hopes to return by the end of June, though it's too early for a definite timetable. ... Hudson finished 4-for-6, tying a career high in hits. He's done it seven times.