ATLANTA — Every 20 years or so, Jamie Moyer beats the Braves. He was right on schedule Friday night.

    Greg Dobbs snapped a tie with a two-run single in the seventh inning and Ryan Howard padded the lead with a two-run double in the eighth as Moyer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat Atlanta 8-3 to open a weekend series. Moyer’s win came 20 years and two days after the only other time he beat the Braves. On May 23, 1987, Moyer earned the win in relief as the Cubs beat the Braves in Chicago. The 44-year-old Moyer had never won in Atlanta and had lost six straight decisions to the Braves before giving up five hits and three runs, two earned, in seven innings.

    Moyer (5-3) walked one and had four strikeouts. Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria and manager Bobby Cox were ejected in the fourth inning by home plate umpire Paul Emmel. Renteria was unusually forceful in arguing a called third strike. Cox joined the argument and was tossed. The ejection was the 129th of Cox’s career and his fourth of the season. He is only two behind John McGraw’s record of 131.

    Atlanta’s Tim Hudson (5-3) threw 122 pitches while giving up 10 hits and five runs in 6 2-3 innings. He issued three walks — two intentional — and had three strikeouts. Moyer led 3-1 before a throwing error by Howard helped the Braves pull even in the sixth inning.

    With Kelly Johnson on third base and Martin Prado on second, Jeff Francoeur hit a one-out grounder to third baseman Greg Dobbs. As Dobbs threw to Howard at first base, Prado broke for third and Johnson ran for home. Howard’s throw to the plate was wild, allowing Prado to follow Johnson across the plate for a 3-3 tie. Francoeur was awarded one RBI on the play.

    Howard was 1-for-4 with a walk and the two-run double off Tyler Yates in his return from the disabled list. The double drove in Jimmy Rollins, who scored three runs, and Shane Victorino, who had three hits. Rollins doubled and scored on groundouts by Chase Utley in the first and third innings.

    Victorino added a run-scoring single in the third, driving in Moyer following the first of his two singles. Jayson Werth hit a pinch-hit homer in the ninth for the Phillies. The Braves scored their first run in the second when Andruw Jones doubled to center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Diaz. Left-hander Michael Zagurski, called up from Double-A Reading earlier in the day, pitched a scoreless eighth inning in relief of Moyer.

Notes: Hudson has given up a combined 11 earned runs in two straight losses. ... 3B Martin Prado filled in for Chipper Jones for the second straight game after Jones had a cortisone shot in his sore right thumb. ... Cox was denied his 2,200th win. ...