GaryMrMets
07-06-2004, 01:26 AM
http://www.southjerseynews.com/issues/july/s070204d.htm
Hard-hittin' Phils flying solo
Friday, July 2, 2004
After scoring 10, team finds itself alone atop division
By CHUCK GORMLEY
Courier-Post Staff
PHILADELPHIA
Sometime later this season, the Phillies will look back on their recently completed four-game series against the Montreal Expos and say:
a) it kick-started an offense in desperate need of being kicked; or . . .
b) it was nothing more than a dominant performance against an inferior pitching staff.
Either way they look at it, the Phils laid some serious lumber on their north of the border opponents. Including Thursday night's 10-5 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 43,246 - most of which stuck around to see a fireworks show - the Phils scored 44 runs on 55 hits and clubbed eight home runs while taking three of four from the hapless Expos.
It marked the Phillies' biggest offensive output in a single series since 1932, when they scored 49 runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It also left them alone in first place in the National League East, a full game ahead of the Florida Marlins (9-1 losers to the Atlanta Braves), for the first time since May 23.
Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal, who was more of a spectator than a participant in the first three games of the series (3-for-13), played a big part in Thursday night's win. He blasted a three-run homer to give the Phils a 7-4 lead in the third inning and ripped an RBI double in the sixth, his 200th career double, to make it 9-4.
"He's starting to swing the bat, and that's a big lift for us," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He had a good year last year (hitting a career-high .313). Some guys take a little longer each year to have things fall into place."
The six-run third inning was enough for Phillies starter Randy Wolf, who allowed four runs on five hits in seven innings of work, nailing down his first win since shutting out the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 30.
Making just his second start since going on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left elbow, Wolf threw 100 pitches over seven innings and settled down after a rocky three innings in which he allowed a leadoff home run to Brad Wilkerson and three runs on three hits in the third inning.
"It was a tough inning for me," Wolf said of the third. "But we came right back and scored six and I knew if I held them right there, we'd be able to score some more runs."
Wolf (3-3) struck out four of the final eight batters he faced before giving way to relievers Roberto Hernandez, who was touched for a solo home run, and Billy Wagner, who closed the door in the ninth.
"There aren't many starts when you're out there 100 percent (healthy)," Wolf said. "You have to go out there and adjust."
Meanwhile, the Phillies jumped all over Expos starter Scott Downs, who climbed the mound carrying an 0-1 record with a 10.13 ERA. In just 2 1/3 innings, Downs allowed seven runs on nine hits, including Lieberthal's ninth homer of the season.
In three of the four games against the Expos the Phils rallied from early three-run deficits to take leads.
"The way I look at it, we keep battling back," Bowa said. "They're not giving up, no matter how many runs they're down."
Now, if only the Phillies can convince the Expos to come back to Philadelphia another six or seven times this season.
Notes: First baseman Jim Thome injured his right Achilles' tendon while crossing the plate in the third inning but stayed in the game. "He said he was all right," Bowa said. "I don't even want to talk about something like that (an injury to Thome). That would be ugly." Left fielder Pat Burrell returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday night's game with a slight groin strain and went 3-for-5. The start of the game was delayed 29 minutes due to a brief downpour. The Phillies begin a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles tonight when RHP Brett Myers (5-5, 4.93) faces LHP Mat Riley (1-3, 7.29). . . . Expos shortstop Orlando Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 18 games with an RBI single in the third inning. . . . All three of Wilkerson's leadoff home runs have come against the Phillies. . . . Bowa said starting pitcher Vicente Padilla is still "a long way off" in his attempt to return from tendinitis in his right arm. "He almost has to start over," Bowa said. . . . Phils third base coach John Vukovich will miss the weekend series with the Orioles to attend the funeral of his father, John Vukovich Sr., who passed away Tuesday in Jackson, Calif. . . . Unlike previous years, when fans were permitted on the field of Veterans Stadium for fireworks, fans watched from their seats in the first fireworks display at Citizens Park. It was the 18th sellout at the Park.
Hard-hittin' Phils flying solo
Friday, July 2, 2004
After scoring 10, team finds itself alone atop division
By CHUCK GORMLEY
Courier-Post Staff
PHILADELPHIA
Sometime later this season, the Phillies will look back on their recently completed four-game series against the Montreal Expos and say:
a) it kick-started an offense in desperate need of being kicked; or . . .
b) it was nothing more than a dominant performance against an inferior pitching staff.
Either way they look at it, the Phils laid some serious lumber on their north of the border opponents. Including Thursday night's 10-5 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 43,246 - most of which stuck around to see a fireworks show - the Phils scored 44 runs on 55 hits and clubbed eight home runs while taking three of four from the hapless Expos.
It marked the Phillies' biggest offensive output in a single series since 1932, when they scored 49 runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It also left them alone in first place in the National League East, a full game ahead of the Florida Marlins (9-1 losers to the Atlanta Braves), for the first time since May 23.
Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal, who was more of a spectator than a participant in the first three games of the series (3-for-13), played a big part in Thursday night's win. He blasted a three-run homer to give the Phils a 7-4 lead in the third inning and ripped an RBI double in the sixth, his 200th career double, to make it 9-4.
"He's starting to swing the bat, and that's a big lift for us," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He had a good year last year (hitting a career-high .313). Some guys take a little longer each year to have things fall into place."
The six-run third inning was enough for Phillies starter Randy Wolf, who allowed four runs on five hits in seven innings of work, nailing down his first win since shutting out the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 30.
Making just his second start since going on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left elbow, Wolf threw 100 pitches over seven innings and settled down after a rocky three innings in which he allowed a leadoff home run to Brad Wilkerson and three runs on three hits in the third inning.
"It was a tough inning for me," Wolf said of the third. "But we came right back and scored six and I knew if I held them right there, we'd be able to score some more runs."
Wolf (3-3) struck out four of the final eight batters he faced before giving way to relievers Roberto Hernandez, who was touched for a solo home run, and Billy Wagner, who closed the door in the ninth.
"There aren't many starts when you're out there 100 percent (healthy)," Wolf said. "You have to go out there and adjust."
Meanwhile, the Phillies jumped all over Expos starter Scott Downs, who climbed the mound carrying an 0-1 record with a 10.13 ERA. In just 2 1/3 innings, Downs allowed seven runs on nine hits, including Lieberthal's ninth homer of the season.
In three of the four games against the Expos the Phils rallied from early three-run deficits to take leads.
"The way I look at it, we keep battling back," Bowa said. "They're not giving up, no matter how many runs they're down."
Now, if only the Phillies can convince the Expos to come back to Philadelphia another six or seven times this season.
Notes: First baseman Jim Thome injured his right Achilles' tendon while crossing the plate in the third inning but stayed in the game. "He said he was all right," Bowa said. "I don't even want to talk about something like that (an injury to Thome). That would be ugly." Left fielder Pat Burrell returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday night's game with a slight groin strain and went 3-for-5. The start of the game was delayed 29 minutes due to a brief downpour. The Phillies begin a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles tonight when RHP Brett Myers (5-5, 4.93) faces LHP Mat Riley (1-3, 7.29). . . . Expos shortstop Orlando Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 18 games with an RBI single in the third inning. . . . All three of Wilkerson's leadoff home runs have come against the Phillies. . . . Bowa said starting pitcher Vicente Padilla is still "a long way off" in his attempt to return from tendinitis in his right arm. "He almost has to start over," Bowa said. . . . Phils third base coach John Vukovich will miss the weekend series with the Orioles to attend the funeral of his father, John Vukovich Sr., who passed away Tuesday in Jackson, Calif. . . . Unlike previous years, when fans were permitted on the field of Veterans Stadium for fireworks, fans watched from their seats in the first fireworks display at Citizens Park. It was the 18th sellout at the Park.