MLB ROUNDUP | Monday’s games

Phillies 8, Red Sox 2.

PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard homered twice and Jimmy Rollins also connected to back another strong outing by Cole Hamels, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Boston Red Sox in an interleague matchup of division leaders. Hamels (7-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings. Since consecutive poor outings last month, the left-hander has a 1.50 ERA in his last three starts. Dustin Pedroia and J.D. Drew hit consecutive homers for Boston. Red Sox starter Bartolo Colon (4-2) gave up four runs and six hits in four innings before leaving with back stiffness. Howard had his second multihomer game in four nights and finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Howard, who has struggled most of the season, now is tied for second in the NL with 19 homers and he’s in a three-way tie with teammate Chase Utley and Adrian Gonzalez for first in RBIs with 62. The 2006 NL MVP is batting just .224. The Phillies teed off against Colon in the first inning. Rollins hit his 28th career leadoff homer into the second deck in right field for a 1-0 lead. Shane Victorino followed with a double off the wall in right-center.

Braves 7, Rockies 1.

DENVER — Chipper Jones hit a two-run single in the fifth to break open a scoreless game, Jair Jurrjens pitched into the eighth inning without allowing a run. The contest was a makeup from a snow-out on April 10. Jones, mired in a 2-for-15 slump entering the game, finished 2-for-4 with a walk, raising his average a point to .403. Jeff Francoeur had two hits, including a two-run double in the seventh, and Brandon Jones added a two-out, two-run single in the ninth.

Associated Press