Howard hits 200 at record pace

Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard became the fastest player to reach 200 home runs in MLB history against the Florida Marlins.

The first baseman struck the blast - his 23rd of the season - in his 658th game, beating the record of Ralph Kiner, who achieved the feat in 706 games.

The solo shot gave the Phillies a four-run advantage in the sixth inning as Florida could not deal with Philadelphia starter Jamie Moyer (9-6), who allowed just one hit and one walk in seven scoreless innings.

The other star for Philadelphia was Raul Ibanez, who twice went long to drive in the other three runs.

Manny Ramirez was stifled by the Houston Astros on his first game at Dodgers Stadium since his 50-game suspension for use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Ramirez went one for four as the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 3-0, Wandy Rodriguez (9-6) leading Houston to the win with six scoreless innings of five-hit ball.

Humberto Quintero homered in the fifth for Houston, who also added two in the seventh.

Home Run Derby winner Prince Fielder picked up where he left off on Monday night, his three-run shot helping the Milwaukee Brewers to a 9-6 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Fielder went long in the second and Milwaukee added five more in the sixth as they established a 9-3 lead.

An Edwin Encarnacion three-run effort in the eighth kept the Reds alive, but Trevor Hoffman's 21st save of the season ensured Braden Looper (8-4) was awarded the win.

Jim Riggleman's tenure as interim manager got off to a disappointing start as his Washington Nationals slipped to a 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Cubs.

Starter Rich Harden (6-6) allowed just an unearned run on three hits over six innings for the Cubs, while Derrek Lee homered and Ryan Theriot had two RBI to spoil Riggleman's big day. Ryan Zimmerman homered for the struggling Nats.

The Braves' bullpen out-pitched that of the New York Mets as the Braves came out on top of a tight battle in Atlanta, winning 5-3.

It was Chipper Jones who snapped a 3-3 tie in the seventh, one of two runs driven in off three innings of Mets relief pitching. Atlanta's Manny Acosta (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win.

Clint Barmes hit a three-run homer and Seth Smith added a two-run blast as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 10-1.

Aaron Cook (9-3) gave up one run on eight hits across six innings for the win.