Phillies snap 4-game skid, beat Pirates 7-3

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Roy Halladay pitched seven effective innings and the Philadelphia Phillies snapped a season-high four-game losing streak, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 on Sunday to avoid a sweep.

Neil Walker hit a two-run homer in the first inning, one of six Pittsburgh hits off Halladay (8-3), who had six strikeouts and one walk in tying for the most wins in the majors.

Ryan Howard had three RBIs, Chase Utley was on base four times and Placido Polanco had two hits and scored twice for Philadelphia.

Playing without leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins (bruised knee), the struggling Phillies offense — seven runs in the previous four games — broke out with 14 hits and was aided by seven walks, two hit batters, two wild pitches and a passed ball.