Starting Five: Philly Feeling Plenty Good

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That Ryan Howard is in the history books and Raul Ibanez is just fine, thank you.

The Phillies started the second half off on the right foot, blanking the Marlins 4-0 on a one-hitter by Jamie Moyer and two relievers, but Howard and Ibanez stole the show -- the former by becoming the fastest player in history to 200 home runs and the latter by belting two of his own in his third game since a lengthy stint on the disabled list.

"We finished the first half the way we wanted," Howard said. "It's important to get off to a good start in the second half."

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The defending champions have won six in a row and all of a sudden opened up a five-game lead in the NL East standings. Only the Dodgers (up 6 1/2 games on the Giants) have a larger cushion.

From the Trainer's Room ...
Mariners slugger Russell Branyan is dealing with back stiffness. The first baseman trotted into second base rather than trying to leg out a triple on a drive that smashed off the center field wall in Cleveland because of back spasms, which he has battled off an on this season. Branyan, who was central to Seattle's surprising 46-42 first half, chalked it up to rustiness and said he does not expect it to be a serious problem going forward.

Numbers Game ...
Right on cue with the trade deadline just over two weeks away, Oakland left fielder Matt Holliday homered, ending a 121-at-bat homerless streak that stretched all the way back to June 5. Holliday is one of the big names expected to be moved before July 31, but a hot streak would help maximize the A's haul in any potential deal. The home run drought was the second longest of Holliday's career, with the only longer one, a 137-at-bat stretch without a big fly, coming in 2004, his rookie season.

In Their Own Words ...
"Like I said, I swing hard anyway. I'm not saying it couldn't happen. I just don't worry about it. That guy was throwing pretty crisp." -- Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder on the notion that his swing could suffer in the wake of his participation in the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break. Fielder, who won the event, blasted a three-run homer off of Reds' fireballer Homer Bailey in Milwaukee's 9-6 win Thursday night.

Advance Scouting ...
Catch Clay Buchholz while you can. The highly-touted Red Sox right-hander will make his first start in the major leagues this season, facing Toronto Friday night (7:07 PM ET), but his stay in the show is expected last only one turn. Buchholz posted a 6.75 ERA in 15 starts in the big leagues last year, but he's torn up Triple-A opposition in 2009, going 7-2 with a 2.36 ERA. He might be one of the five best starters in the Boston organization, but because of the club's ability to option him to the minors that is where he has remained all season.