GaryMrMets
06-01-2004, 03:03 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/8802686.htm
Posted on Mon, May. 31, 2004
Feelin' Groovy
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
Eric Milton thinks this is just the start.
After he missed most of last season because of knee surgery, he worked feverishly to be ready and healthy for 2004. He also knew he needed to learn a new team and a different league after the Minnesota Twins traded him to the Phillies in December.
But he said he's getting there.
"I'm just trying to get back in the groove," he said yesterday after the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves, 4-1, for a split in the four-game series at Citizens Bank Park. "It's getting better every time out. I'm feeling stronger. I'm able to go deeper into games. It's just nice."
Milton allowed just three hits and one run with a season-high eight strikeouts in seven innings to improve to 6-1 with a 4.08 ERA after 10 starts. He hadn't pitched better this season, and Phillies first baseman Jim Thome provided a two-run home run to right field in the eighth inning to give the Phillies breathing room. It was Thome's 12th of the season.
"In the past I've always been stronger in the second half of the year," Milton said. "I'm building up arm strength, and I'm getting really close. By the end of the season I really want it to be there, and it's going to be. I know I'm feeling strong. But I still feel I have more to offer."
Milton had some help early.
Phillies third baseman David Bell, batting second for the first time this season, hit a solo home run off Braves starter Travis Smith - who went 7-10 with a 4.20 ERA in South Korea last season - to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Milton didn't allow a baserunner until Braves second baseman Nick Green singled to left field with one out in the fourth inning. J.D. Drew's fielder's choice put him at first with two outs, and Andruw Jones' triple scored Drew to make it 1-1.
Smith, who replaced Horacio Ramirez after Ramirez went on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, found himself in trouble in the sixth. Phillies rightfielder Bobby Abreu, on first with two outs, stole second base, allowing the Braves to intentionally walk Thome.
Then Smith walked leftfielder Pat Burrell to load the bases.
After second baseman Chase Utley fouled off three pitches, Smith hit him to force in the run, giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead.
"Utley's been big for us like that all year," Thome said. "He really worked a good at-bat. He hung in there. It was great."
"It was kind of a quirky way to take the lead," Milton said. "But once you take the lead you have to make it stick."
He did.
After he walked Braves third baseman Mark DeRosa with one out and catcher Eddie Perez with two outs in the seventh, he got pinch-hitter Chipper Jones to strike out to end the inning. Phillies manager Larry Bowa said he had no intention of taking Milton out with Jones at the plate.
Milton appreciated that.
"I was feeling strong," Milton said. "I was looking forward to the challenge."
Bowa appreciated that Milton, who threw 115 pitches, pitched deeper into a game than he had all season. Bowa and pitching coach Joe Kerrigan said before the game how much they needed Milton to pitch more than five or six innings because they needed to rest the bullpen.
Bowa has had his eye on starters' pitch counts this season because he said he wants to keep them strong for the postseason push late in the year, but he said yesterday that he's going to relax the reins a bit.
"We have to let them go a little bit further," Bowa said. "We have some guys right now [in the bullpen] who have gone beyond the call of duty."
Rheal Cormier, whom Bowa said he has really leaned on in the bullpen, allowed a leadoff single to Rafael Furcal in the eighth before he got two outs. Tim Worrell then struck out Andruw Jones to end the inning and pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season.
But it was Milton who got them there.
"He pitched a great game," Thome said. "As the game goes on it seems like he gets better. It's great to play behind him."
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/8801/77465142457.jpg
Jim Thome is a happy slugger after the Phillies' win over Atlanta. Thome's 393d career homer, a two-run shot in the eighth, gave the Phils a 4-1 lead.
Posted on Mon, May. 31, 2004
Feelin' Groovy
By Todd Zolecki
Inquirer Staff Writer
Eric Milton thinks this is just the start.
After he missed most of last season because of knee surgery, he worked feverishly to be ready and healthy for 2004. He also knew he needed to learn a new team and a different league after the Minnesota Twins traded him to the Phillies in December.
But he said he's getting there.
"I'm just trying to get back in the groove," he said yesterday after the Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves, 4-1, for a split in the four-game series at Citizens Bank Park. "It's getting better every time out. I'm feeling stronger. I'm able to go deeper into games. It's just nice."
Milton allowed just three hits and one run with a season-high eight strikeouts in seven innings to improve to 6-1 with a 4.08 ERA after 10 starts. He hadn't pitched better this season, and Phillies first baseman Jim Thome provided a two-run home run to right field in the eighth inning to give the Phillies breathing room. It was Thome's 12th of the season.
"In the past I've always been stronger in the second half of the year," Milton said. "I'm building up arm strength, and I'm getting really close. By the end of the season I really want it to be there, and it's going to be. I know I'm feeling strong. But I still feel I have more to offer."
Milton had some help early.
Phillies third baseman David Bell, batting second for the first time this season, hit a solo home run off Braves starter Travis Smith - who went 7-10 with a 4.20 ERA in South Korea last season - to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Milton didn't allow a baserunner until Braves second baseman Nick Green singled to left field with one out in the fourth inning. J.D. Drew's fielder's choice put him at first with two outs, and Andruw Jones' triple scored Drew to make it 1-1.
Smith, who replaced Horacio Ramirez after Ramirez went on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, found himself in trouble in the sixth. Phillies rightfielder Bobby Abreu, on first with two outs, stole second base, allowing the Braves to intentionally walk Thome.
Then Smith walked leftfielder Pat Burrell to load the bases.
After second baseman Chase Utley fouled off three pitches, Smith hit him to force in the run, giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead.
"Utley's been big for us like that all year," Thome said. "He really worked a good at-bat. He hung in there. It was great."
"It was kind of a quirky way to take the lead," Milton said. "But once you take the lead you have to make it stick."
He did.
After he walked Braves third baseman Mark DeRosa with one out and catcher Eddie Perez with two outs in the seventh, he got pinch-hitter Chipper Jones to strike out to end the inning. Phillies manager Larry Bowa said he had no intention of taking Milton out with Jones at the plate.
Milton appreciated that.
"I was feeling strong," Milton said. "I was looking forward to the challenge."
Bowa appreciated that Milton, who threw 115 pitches, pitched deeper into a game than he had all season. Bowa and pitching coach Joe Kerrigan said before the game how much they needed Milton to pitch more than five or six innings because they needed to rest the bullpen.
Bowa has had his eye on starters' pitch counts this season because he said he wants to keep them strong for the postseason push late in the year, but he said yesterday that he's going to relax the reins a bit.
"We have to let them go a little bit further," Bowa said. "We have some guys right now [in the bullpen] who have gone beyond the call of duty."
Rheal Cormier, whom Bowa said he has really leaned on in the bullpen, allowed a leadoff single to Rafael Furcal in the eighth before he got two outs. Tim Worrell then struck out Andruw Jones to end the inning and pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season.
But it was Milton who got them there.
"He pitched a great game," Thome said. "As the game goes on it seems like he gets better. It's great to play behind him."
http://www.philly.com/images/philly/inquirer/8801/77465142457.jpg
Jim Thome is a happy slugger after the Phillies' win over Atlanta. Thome's 393d career homer, a two-run shot in the eighth, gave the Phils a 4-1 lead.