Ryan Howard belted a solo home run and had a run-scoring single and Cole Hamels pitched seven strong innings as the Philadelphia Phillies recorded a 5-1 triumph over the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

Jayson Werth launched a two-run blast and Shane Victorino added an RBI single for the National League-leading Phillies (26-15), who improved to 14-5 in the month of May.

All was not good for Philadelphia as shortstop Jimmy Rollins left the game in the sixth inning with a calf injury after he singled to right field. The 2007 National League Most Valuable Player had just returned to the lineup on Monday after spending a little over a month on the disabled list with a calf strain.

Hamels (5-2) allowed a first-inning home run to Victor Martinez before settling down to win his third straight start. The 26-year-old left-hander permitted three hits while walking one and striking out eight to pick up the victory.

David Herndon retired the side in order in the eighth before Danys Baez and J.C. Romero worked the ninth to preserve the win.

John Lackey (4-3) allowed four runs and six hits while walking five for the Red Sox, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.