GaryMrMets
07-27-2004, 07:39 PM
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/sports/s072704b.htm
Phils' can't solve Marlins
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
MIAMI
The Phillies lifted a hefty and persistent weight off their shoulders last Wednesday when they defeated the Florida Marlins at Citizens Bank Park their first win over their National League East nemesis in 10 tries.
That was then, and that was the cozy confines of home. Where the Marlins really become thorns in the Phillies' sides is at Pro Player Stadium, and even if the Phillies had cleansed themselves of Florida's year-long dominance over them last week, one streak still remained: the Phillies hadn't beaten the Marlins in their last 10 tries on the road.
For at least one more game, that stigma remains. The Marlins pounded the Phillies, 11-3, on Monday, opening a four-game series by scoring six runs in the first two innings off right-hander Kevin Millwood and picking themselves up after being swept by lowly Montreal over the weekend.
The Phillies (52-47) dropped 1 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East race, and they will have to figure out a way to win at Pro Player, lest they allow themselves to fall further into the pack. The staggering Marlins, who entered the game just 11-21 in their last 32 games, still stand only three games behind the Phillies and thanks to Monday's win.
Millwood, the same pitcher that helped the Phillies halt the first streak, had been enjoying a renaissance after a dismal first half. He had earned victories in each of his two starts, posting a 1.29 ERA in that span.
But on Monday, he yielded eight hits in the first two innings, six by the top three hitters in the Florida batting order. Juan Pierre, Luis Castillo and Mike Lowell each started 2-for-2, but No. 5 hitter Jeff Conine delivered the biggest blow, a three-run double in the first.
In the second, Pierre and Castillo each collected RBI singles, and Lowell followed with a double that left fielder Pat Burrell lost in the lights.
Whatever dominance Millwood displayed in holding Florida to one run over seven innings last Wednesday deserted him just for those two innings, and it cost him his sixth defeat of the year. He pitched six innings, allowing only one baserunner after the second.
The Phillies were similarly shut down after the second by Marlins right-hander A.J. Burnett, who lost to Millwood in his last start. Burnett also got into trouble in the first two innings, but escaped with only two runs allowed.
In the first inning, Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez made a difficult over-the-shoulder catch on David Bell's two-out blooper with the bases loaded. Then, Burnett ended the second by striking out Jim Thome with runners on second and third.
Phils' can't solve Marlins
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
By EDWARD de la FUENTE
Gannett News Service
MIAMI
The Phillies lifted a hefty and persistent weight off their shoulders last Wednesday when they defeated the Florida Marlins at Citizens Bank Park their first win over their National League East nemesis in 10 tries.
That was then, and that was the cozy confines of home. Where the Marlins really become thorns in the Phillies' sides is at Pro Player Stadium, and even if the Phillies had cleansed themselves of Florida's year-long dominance over them last week, one streak still remained: the Phillies hadn't beaten the Marlins in their last 10 tries on the road.
For at least one more game, that stigma remains. The Marlins pounded the Phillies, 11-3, on Monday, opening a four-game series by scoring six runs in the first two innings off right-hander Kevin Millwood and picking themselves up after being swept by lowly Montreal over the weekend.
The Phillies (52-47) dropped 1 1/2 games behind Atlanta in the NL East race, and they will have to figure out a way to win at Pro Player, lest they allow themselves to fall further into the pack. The staggering Marlins, who entered the game just 11-21 in their last 32 games, still stand only three games behind the Phillies and thanks to Monday's win.
Millwood, the same pitcher that helped the Phillies halt the first streak, had been enjoying a renaissance after a dismal first half. He had earned victories in each of his two starts, posting a 1.29 ERA in that span.
But on Monday, he yielded eight hits in the first two innings, six by the top three hitters in the Florida batting order. Juan Pierre, Luis Castillo and Mike Lowell each started 2-for-2, but No. 5 hitter Jeff Conine delivered the biggest blow, a three-run double in the first.
In the second, Pierre and Castillo each collected RBI singles, and Lowell followed with a double that left fielder Pat Burrell lost in the lights.
Whatever dominance Millwood displayed in holding Florida to one run over seven innings last Wednesday deserted him just for those two innings, and it cost him his sixth defeat of the year. He pitched six innings, allowing only one baserunner after the second.
The Phillies were similarly shut down after the second by Marlins right-hander A.J. Burnett, who lost to Millwood in his last start. Burnett also got into trouble in the first two innings, but escaped with only two runs allowed.
In the first inning, Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez made a difficult over-the-shoulder catch on David Bell's two-out blooper with the bases loaded. Then, Burnett ended the second by striking out Jim Thome with runners on second and third.