Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Jamie Moyer crafted six scoreless innings, and Ryan Howard erupted for two homers and a double while driving in four runs to lead an awakened Phillies offense to a season-best output, as Philadelphia thrashed the Washington Nationals, 12-2, to capture the rubber match of the three-game set at Nationals Park.

Howard, who entered the affair batting just .183 on the campaign, finished 3- for-5, marking his first three-hit game -- to go along with his first multi- home run game -- of the season. Shane Victorino also ended 3-for-5, adding a double, homer, pair of RBI and three runs scored for the Phillies, who had scored just one run in the initial two contests of the series combined.

"Each at-bat, I was just trying to get down and see the ball as best I could," said Howard. "The first at-bat, I was able to take it to left field, and the first home run I just went with the pitch. ... I am just trying to take it day-by-day, and at-bat by at-bat."

Pedro Feliz contributed three hits and a solo home run, as Philadelphia has triumphed in back-to-back tilts after a season-high three-game skid. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Chris Coste each collected a pair of hits, a run scored and an RBI, knotting the season series with Washington at three games apiece.

Moyer (4-3) scattered seven hits and a walk while notching three timely strikeouts to earn the victory. The 45-year-old southpaw avenged a no-decision from April 3 when he surrendered six runs, though only three were earned. He improved to 7-4 lifetime against the Nationals.

"He did a good job," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel of Moyer's performance. "He got into some trouble early and worked his way out of it. He could have stayed in the game. I wanted to take him out because I think it will help him for his next start."

Clay Condrey tossed the last three innings -- giving up two runs on five hits -- to pick up his first save of the season.

Felipe Lopez recorded a pair of doubles and scored once for Washington, and Ryan Zimmerman and Dmitri Young each had an RBI. Jesus Flores went 3-for-5 with a double.

Matt Chico (0-6), returning to the Nationals' rotation to allow Shawn Hill to rest a sore elbow, was touched up for four runs on seven hits over five innings. Chico had been demoted to the bullpen following five consecutive losses with a no-decision, compiling a 6.87 earned run average in his first stint as a starter this season. The young lefty dropped to 1-1 in four career starts against the Phils.

Philadelphia wasted no time getting on the board. In the first frame, Victorino turned on Chico's initial offering and ripped it into the left field corner for a stand-up double, and Howard collected his first hit of the series in eight tries, a two-out RBI double, when he smoked a low breaking ball the opposite way, into left field.

The Phils got right back to it in the second, as Feliz led off by depositing a high-and-tight 2-1 fastball over the left-center field fence.

The Nationals had identical opportunities to trim the deficit in the second and fourth stanzas when they put runners on the corners with no outs, but Moyer was able to work out of both jams without any damage to preserve the 2-0 edge.

"We played some good defense tonight, which is key," explained Moyer. "Fortunately, I was able to face the bottom of their order when I was in a jam. It was nice to get out of that."

Victorino added to the Philly advantage in the fifth by smashing a belt-high fastball deep into the seats in left, just barely hugging the inside of the foul pole. Not to be outdone, two batters later, Howard demolished an 0-2 offering, sending it soaring into the second deck in right-center for a 4-0 lead.

The Phils continued their offensive onslaught in the sixth, exploding for an eight-run inning that put the game well out of reach. Feliz and Coste connected for back-to-back one-out base hits, and then moved up to second and third when Jesus Colome uncorked a wild pitch -- part of an eight-pitch walk to Moyer that loaded the bases.

Rollins and Victorino each delivered an RBI single, and Young could not handle Elijah Dukes' throw from right, as the ball skipped under his glove and all the way into the camera well to the left of the Washington dugout. Moyer and Rollins were both awarded home on the fielding error, and the Phillies surged ahead, 8-0.

Utley followed with a double that plated Victorino, and then Howard blasted another longball, again to right-center field. Before the Nats could escape the hellish half-inning, Coste drove in Jayson Werth -- who had reached base on a walk -- to give Philadelphia a comfortable 12-0 cushion.

Washington snapped a 16-inning scoreless streak in the seventh, as Zimmerman's two-out base hit brought around Rob Mackowiak, and then Young knocked in Lopez with a single to center.

Game Notes

Philadelphia travels to Houston for the start of a four-game set on Thursday, sending Kyle Kendrick (3-2) to the hill against Astros ace Roy Oswalt (4-4)...Washington enjoys an off day before opening a four-game series at Nationals Park against Milwaukee on Friday...This was the 13th career multi- homer game for Howard, over the equivalent of less than three seasons of games played (458)...Washington entered the game having outscored Philly 24-14 this season, and ended even at 26-26...Colome allowed six runs on five hits and a walk in 1/3 innings...The Phillies went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position on Wednesday, after going 1-for-17 over the first two games of the series...Despite plating 12 runs on 15 hits, the Phils still managed to leave 10 runners stranded...The Nats have lost six straight games against left- handed starters.