GaryMrMets
07-06-2004, 01:46 AM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s070504b.htm
Milton earns 11th win as Phils top O's
Monday, July 5, 2004
By JESSICA RYAN
Courier-Post Staff
PHILADELPHIA
Eric Milton isn't one who looks at statistics or his ERA.
Or even the fact that with the Phillies' 5-2 Interleague win against the Baltimore Orioles Sunday at Citizens Bank Park, he is the National League leader in wins with 11 or even that he wasn't selected as a member of the 2004 All-Star team.
"I think a 4.48 ERA in this park isn't too bad," Milton said. "This is a tough park to pitch in and I try not to look at ERA or stats and just go out there and try to win. That's what you try to do for your team every time out and give them a chance to win."
Milton helped put the Phillies in a position to win by pitching 6-plus innings, striking out four, allowing seven hits and walking one.
With the team's win Sunday, the Phillies improved to 43-37 and are two games ahead of the New York Mets and Florida Marlins in the National League East.
Prior to Sunday's game, Milton was in a three-way tie with Houston's Roger Clemens and San Francisco's Jason Schmidt with 10 wins, who both made the All-Star team, while Milton did not.
"I try not to think about it," said Milton, who was an American League selection in 2001 for the Minnesota Twins.
"I know there are a lot of other guys that are deserving. If I go great, if not, I'll enjoy my time off."
"Milton's been our rock," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "This team has played hard all year. Gone through a lot of adversity, hung in there and played. We lost that 16-inning game Friday and came back and won two games."
In the second inning Sunday, Javy Lopez hit a solo homer to score the first run of the game and give the Orioles a temporary, 1-0 lead.
But the Phillies answered in the bottom of the second with a lead-off double by first baseman Jim Thome.
Two batters later, third baseman David Bell singled to put runners on the corners for second baseman Chase Utley.
Utley hit a ground-rule double off the top of the center-field wall to score Thome and Bell. In the third inning, right fielder Bobby Abreu hit a solo shot into center field to give the Phillies a 3-1 advantage.
The Orioles scored their final run of the game off a Bell throwing error in the fifth inning. Abreu was able to give the Phillies a little bit of breathing room in the fifth, hitting a two-run double.
In the final 2 1/3 innings, the Phillies bullpen held the Orioles scoreless and to one hit.
Rheal Cormier picked up Milton in the seventh inning, inheriting runners on first and second. But Cormier quickly disposed of two Orioles with a double play. Jerry Hairston then flew out to end the inning.
Roberto Hernandez threw a scoreless eighth inning while Tim Worrell picked up his ninth save of the season pitching the ninth.
"The bullpen came in and did an unbelievable job," Milton said. "We're starting to get high now I think and this is a homestand we need and to keep winning games."
The Phillies begin a four-game series against the Mets today and finish out the first half of the season with a three-game series against Atlanta.
"New York has been playing good," said Abreu who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. "We have to stay focused, do the little things to win games and never give up."
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/images/s070504a.jpg
Eric Milton pitched into the seventh inning Sunday and earned his 11th victory of the season.
Milton earns 11th win as Phils top O's
Monday, July 5, 2004
By JESSICA RYAN
Courier-Post Staff
PHILADELPHIA
Eric Milton isn't one who looks at statistics or his ERA.
Or even the fact that with the Phillies' 5-2 Interleague win against the Baltimore Orioles Sunday at Citizens Bank Park, he is the National League leader in wins with 11 or even that he wasn't selected as a member of the 2004 All-Star team.
"I think a 4.48 ERA in this park isn't too bad," Milton said. "This is a tough park to pitch in and I try not to look at ERA or stats and just go out there and try to win. That's what you try to do for your team every time out and give them a chance to win."
Milton helped put the Phillies in a position to win by pitching 6-plus innings, striking out four, allowing seven hits and walking one.
With the team's win Sunday, the Phillies improved to 43-37 and are two games ahead of the New York Mets and Florida Marlins in the National League East.
Prior to Sunday's game, Milton was in a three-way tie with Houston's Roger Clemens and San Francisco's Jason Schmidt with 10 wins, who both made the All-Star team, while Milton did not.
"I try not to think about it," said Milton, who was an American League selection in 2001 for the Minnesota Twins.
"I know there are a lot of other guys that are deserving. If I go great, if not, I'll enjoy my time off."
"Milton's been our rock," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "This team has played hard all year. Gone through a lot of adversity, hung in there and played. We lost that 16-inning game Friday and came back and won two games."
In the second inning Sunday, Javy Lopez hit a solo homer to score the first run of the game and give the Orioles a temporary, 1-0 lead.
But the Phillies answered in the bottom of the second with a lead-off double by first baseman Jim Thome.
Two batters later, third baseman David Bell singled to put runners on the corners for second baseman Chase Utley.
Utley hit a ground-rule double off the top of the center-field wall to score Thome and Bell. In the third inning, right fielder Bobby Abreu hit a solo shot into center field to give the Phillies a 3-1 advantage.
The Orioles scored their final run of the game off a Bell throwing error in the fifth inning. Abreu was able to give the Phillies a little bit of breathing room in the fifth, hitting a two-run double.
In the final 2 1/3 innings, the Phillies bullpen held the Orioles scoreless and to one hit.
Rheal Cormier picked up Milton in the seventh inning, inheriting runners on first and second. But Cormier quickly disposed of two Orioles with a double play. Jerry Hairston then flew out to end the inning.
Roberto Hernandez threw a scoreless eighth inning while Tim Worrell picked up his ninth save of the season pitching the ninth.
"The bullpen came in and did an unbelievable job," Milton said. "We're starting to get high now I think and this is a homestand we need and to keep winning games."
The Phillies begin a four-game series against the Mets today and finish out the first half of the season with a three-game series against Atlanta.
"New York has been playing good," said Abreu who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. "We have to stay focused, do the little things to win games and never give up."
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/images/s070504a.jpg
Eric Milton pitched into the seventh inning Sunday and earned his 11th victory of the season.