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PHILADELPHIA -- A lost year has reinvigorated Joe Blanton. Von Miller Jersey . The Phillies right-hander pitched seven-plus strong innings and Placido Polanco homered for his 2,000th career hit to lead Philadelphia to a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night. Blanton (4-3) allowed six hits and one run, struck out seven and walked one while pitching in a steady light rain throughout. He continued his solid recent stretch, improving to 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his last four starts. "He got there pretty easy," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Blanton reaching the eighth. "Hes pitching real good." Its been quite a turnaround for Blanton, who missed most of last season with an elbow injury that limited him to 41 1/3 innings and eight starts. But the time away proved beneficial -- both physically and mentally. "Physically, I feel better than I have in a couple years and mechanically, too," he said. "Im having fun with the game again. You feel like a kid again after missing so much time. Its nice to be out there and contribute to help us win games." Blanton got a lift from a Philadelphia offence that has been subpar for much of the season, but has come on of late. Freddy Galvis had three hits and drove in a pair of runs and Carlos Ruiz went 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Phillies, who have won three of four since manager Manuels much-publicized team meeting last Wednesday. The highlight, of course, was Polancos eighth-inning homer that allowed him to reach the milestone. "It means a lot, means Ive been around for a while," Polanco said. "However, Im not thinking about that. Im trying to win games and hopefully a championship." Said Blanton: "It shows youre good and good for a long time. Thats impressive to see." Marwin Gonzalez, pinch hitting to lead off the eighth, hit his first major league homer for the Astros lone run. Carlos Lee went 3 for 4 for Houston, which has lost six of eight after a season-best five-game winning streak. Lee, who recorded all three hits off Blanton, now is 9 for 18 lifetime against the Philadelphia pitcher. The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on Galvis RBI single to right. Philadelphia was helped in the frame by shortstop Jed Lowries fielding error on John Mayberry Jr.s grounder up the middle, making the run unearned for Houston right-hander Lucas Harrell (2-3). The Phillies could have added to the advantage, but stranded the bases loaded on Juan Pierres groundout. Philadelphia went up 3-0 in the sixth on Ruizs single to left that scored Shane Victorino, who opened the frame with a triple, and Galvis opposite-field single. Galvis hit came off Wilton Lopez, who relieved Harrell. Rather than walk Galvis and load the bases for Blanton, Astros manager Brad Mills elected to pitch to Galvis. And the rookie who is filling in for injured All-Star Chase Utley (knee) at second base, made Houston pay with an opposite-field liner that scored Polanco. Galvis, batting .231, now has 15 RBIs on just 25 hits. Harrell left after allowing three runs -- two earned -- on five hits in 5 2/3 innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. He was noticeably upset when he left the field and in the dugout. "I was pretty frustrated," Harrell said. "Thats the best Ive thrown the ball all year, hands down. I had good location and thought everything was really working tonight. Im out there competing and the guys are competing too. I had some frustration built up." The Astros nearly got on the board twice against Blanton, with Lee, in the fourth, and Brian Bogusevic, in the sixth, just missing homers down the left-field line. Altuve followed Gonzalezs homer in the eighth with a single to left, ending the night for Blanton. But Philadelphia relievers Antonio Bastardo and Chad Qualls combined on a scoreless eighth, and Jonathan Papelbon tossed a scoreless ninth, striking out the side, in a non-save situation. Polanco reached his milestone with a two-run homer, his first off the year, to left field off David Carpenter in the eighth. "I knew I hit it pretty good and hoped it dropped somewhere," Polanco said. Notes: Opponents have one hit in their last 23 at-bats against Bastardo. ... The Phillies crowd of 43,824 was the 221st regular-season sellout and 237th straight including post-season play. ... The Astros dropped to 32-21 against the Phillies since 2004, still the only NL club with a winning record against Philadelphia during that span. Houston also is the lone NL club with a winning record at Citizens Bank Park, going 16-11 against Philadelphia since the park opened in 2004. Peyton Manning Youth Jersey . - Arizona followed its script to perfection in Game 1 of the College World Series finals. Steve Atwater Jersey . After giving up 12 runs and 12 hits over eight innings in his first two outings, Maholm has more than settled down. http://www.shopthebroncos.com/demaryius-thomas-jersey .J. -- New Jersey Nets guard Keith Bogans has undergone ankle surgery and is expected to be fully recovered for training camp next season. Tracy Porter Jersey .75 million contract with 41-year-old right-hander Takashi Saito. The former all-star went 4-2 with a 2. John Elway Jersey . The veteran right-hander signed a one-year contract with the Brewers on Friday after being let go by the Atlanta Braves. LOS ANGELES -- Chris Pauls clutch play in the fourth quarter is a big reason why the Los Angeles Clippers are closing in on a rare playoff berth. Paul scored 12 of his 28 points in the final period and added 13 assists in a 112-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday that brought the Clippers within a game of the Lakers for the Pacific Division lead. The Clippers have won 11 of 13, inching closer to their first playoff appearance since the 2005-06 season. "Its all about locking up a playoff spot. You got to get in," Paul said. "Anything can happen when you get to the playoffs. The skys the limit. When we play the way were capable of playing, weve already beaten some of the best teams in the league." Blake Griffin added 20 points, DeAndre Jordan 18 and Mo Williams 14 in the Clippers third straight win. They also are chasing the idle Lakers for the third seed in the Western Conference with six games remaining. "We know what our goal is and its not to be ahead of the Lakers once the playoffs start," Jordan said. The Clippers 36 wins are their most since they won 40 games in 2006-07. They next play West-leading Oklahoma City on Monday with a chance to win that season series. "We would love to win the division," Paul said. "In order to do that, we would need to win out." Reserve Nate Robinson led injury-riddled Golden State with 28 points, including four 3-pointers. Klay Thompson added 24 points, Dorell Wright scored 23 and Brandon Rush 22 in the Warriors third consecutive loss and 11th in their last 13 games. David Lee and Richard Jefferson have been sidelined since Friday with injuries, joining Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry. "Were undermanned and undersized, but we fought. Theres no quit in us," Thompson said. "Weve been short-handed all year, so its a learning experience, especially for us rookies. Were getting better, but weve got to get a lot better defensively. Even though were undersized, weve got to do a better job of boxing out and keeping them from getting second chances." Golden State, the NBAs leadding 3-point shooting team, made 15 from long range -- one off its season high. Von Miller Womens Jersey. Wright and Thompson had four 3s each. The Warriors were 15 of 21 from the free-throw line, compared to 14 for 30 for the Clippers. "It was kind of like a snowball effect," Jordan said. "I missed a couple and then Blake missed a couple and then Kenyon (Martin) did, and they just started fouling us, but we got the win. We all have confidence in each other that in the clutch well knock those down." Without Lee down low to guard Griffin, the Clippers dominated the paint. But Golden State stayed in the game with its strong outside shooting. "Slow starts like that have killed us. Its inexcusable," Thompson said. "Its on us rookies to come out and play with a lot of energy. But we showed a lot of heart though." Nick Young hit a timely 3-pointer that gave Los Angeles its only double-digit lead of the fourth. From there, the Warriors got within six several times, but the Clippers made a series of defensive stops in the closing minute. Paul hit a 3 with 9 seconds left to preserve the win, although Thompson ended the game by making Golden States last 3. "We understand we couldnt win a checkers match right now, we are not good enough," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. The Warriors tied it twice in the third quarter but never managed to take the lead despite the Clippers missed free throws. They were 10 of 19 from the line in the period. Martin finally made a pair to send the Clippers into the fourth ahead 86-82. The Clippers raced to a 24-5 lead to start the game, shooting 59 per cent in the opening quarter when Paul and Jordan scored 12 points each. The Warriors hit seven 3-pointers in the second quarter to trail 59-58 at the break. Rush and Robinson made three apiece in the period as Golden State shot 61 per cent from long range in the half. NOTES: The Clippers split the season series with the Warriors. ... Golden State remains stuck at 10 road wins, equaling last seasons total. ... Jefferson, who has a swollen right knee, wasnt with the Warriors. ... The Clippers improved to 9-1 on Saturdays. ' ' '