PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Roy Halladay became Philadelphia's first 20-game winner in 28 years, Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer and the Phillies increased their lead in the NL East to five games with their ninth straight win, 5-3 over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Halladay (20-10) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings to reach 20 wins for the third time in his career. Hall of Famer Steve Carlton was the last to do it for the Phillies when he won 23 in 1982. Robin Roberts, another Hall of Famer, was the last right-hander to win 20 for Philadelphia, in 1955.
The two-time defending NL champions are 43-15 since July 21, when they trailed the Braves by seven games. They are 17-3 in September.
The Phillies reduced their magic number to clinch the division to six.
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