Phillies 5, Cubs 2: Carlos Ruiz homered and drove in three and Joe Blanton pitched 7 1/3 strong innings as host Philadelphia evened the series.

Jimmy Rollins, who entered the contest 3-for-37 over his last 10 games, went 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Shane Victorino scored a run for the Phillies, who lost the series opener 5-1 on Friday.

Blanton (2-3) had allowed 10 runs - seven earned - in 11 innings over his last two outings but was a different pitcher on Saturday, notching a season-high eight strikeouts without walking a batter. The right-hander was charged with two runs on eight hits.

Randy Wells (0-1) did not allow a hit through the first three innings for Chicago but would not make it through the fourth. Hunter Pence led off the frame with a double and Wells eventually loaded the bases with a pair of walks in front of Ruiz, who took a 2-0 fastball into left-center to plate a pair.

Wells walked Blanton in front of Rollins, who sent a two-run double to right to cap the four-run rally.

Ruiz led off the sixth with a solo homer off Michael Bowden, his third.

Chad Qualls got the final two outs of the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon struck out a pair in the ninth en route to his seventh save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Philadelphia 1B Jim Thome left the game in the fifth with lower back tightness.…Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced on Saturday that 1B Ryan Howard (Achilles) will soon start rehabilitation at the team’s spring training site in Clearwater, Fla., and that 2B Chase Utley (knee) could follow shortly. … Chicago placed backup C Steve Clevenger (oblique) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled prospect Welington Castillo, who went 0-for-3 in his season debut.