GaryMrMets
08-06-2004, 02:15 AM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/9323559.htm
Posted on Thu, Aug. 05, 2004
For now, Phils can hold their fire
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
SAN DIEGO - Jimmy Rollins scampered around all of the bases. Doug Glanville got three. Amaury Telemaco saved the day with a slick glove.
In keeping with the season's theme, however, the Phillies discovered yesterday that Pat Burrell miss at least the next few games, as the strained left wrist he suffered Tuesday is examined in Philadelphia tomorrow.
That gives manager Larry Bowa the impetus to experiment with what team observers had long suggested: placing speedy backup second baseman Chasey Utley and his effective bat in leftfield to help boost the offense, especially if Burrell - slugger Jim Thome's protection - is hindered for a long period.
"There's nothing you can do about it unless Utley can play leftfield," Bowa said after Utley contributed two hits in the 7-5 win over the Padres last night. "I'm going to talk to [general manager Ed Wade] about it. We'll see what happens."
Burrell's injury tempered Bowa's pleasure with winning two straight games after starting the 13-ame road trip 1-6.
"It's always nice to win games," Bowa said.
The Phillies kept pace behind the Braves in the National League East. The win kept them 4 ½ games back and lent relief to the resigned, if not placid, cragged visage of the Phillies' embattled skipper, who lately has received as many endorsements from his constituency and bosses as, oh, Tony Blair.
Eric Milton made it through a spotty five-plus innings, but left with a lead. That came largely thanks to Glanville, who started in leftfield in place of Burrell.
In Burrell's place, Glanville tripled home Milton, who walked to start the third inning, and Rollins, who doubled. Bobby Abreu followed with an RBI double, moved to third on Jim Thome's groundout and scored on Chase Utley's second hit of the night, making it 4-0.
"Those runs at that time were big," Bowa said.
Milton gave up solo home runs to Ramon Hernandez and Khalil Greene in the bottom of the frame, Greene's the first to land in the third balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. warehouse in leftfield.
Rollins got one back in the fourth with a two-out, inside-the-park homer that landed in the rightfield corner and eluded Brian Giles.
Utley got to second in the fifth after Phil Nevin's error at first base, which cost the Padres another run when David Bell homered to make it 7-2.
Terrence Long pinch-hit for pitcher Adam Eaton in the bottom of the inning, and his single was followed by doubles from Rich Aurilia and Mark Loretta that cut the Phillies' lead to 7-4. Milton, as usual, was pitching to the score, supplying drama even as his team supports his effort. He has spent most of the season enjoying the best run support in the NL and entered last night getting 6.85 runs a game, third best.
Milton was good enough last night, and moved to 12-2 despite giving up five runs on seven hits in five innings, his second straight outing going less than six innings and giving up at least five runs. He took over the NL lead with 28 homers surrendered.
"He got a win on his birthday, anyway," Bowa said.
Milton left after giving up a leadoff double to Brian Buchanan to start the sixth. Roberto Hernandez entered, got two outs, gave up a ground-ball hit to Long and Milton's fifth run for a 7-5 lead, surrendered another hit to Greene before leaving in favor of Telemaco.
Prescient move. Telemaco had great karma.
Aurilia laced a grounder right back at Telemaco, the sort that, had it gotten past him, would have trimmed the lead to one run with Loretta, the NL's hits leader, coming up.
Telemaco crouched, snuck his glove behind his left heel and, with his back to the ball, snagged it. He flipped to first, leaving the Padres pounding sand.
Todd Jones' efficient seventh and Felix Rodriguez's three-hit, one-doubleplay eighth further validated their recent acquisitions and preserved the lead for Tim Worrell, who allowed two runners on base in the ninth, but held on for his 12th save of the season, and 10th in 11 opportunities since assuming the closer's role in Billy Wagner's absence.
The bump between Milton and Worrell caused Bowa to smile widely and say, "We'd like to bridge it a little [smoother]."
And the beat, dimmer and softer, goes on.
Posted on Thu, Aug. 05, 2004
For now, Phils can hold their fire
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com
SAN DIEGO - Jimmy Rollins scampered around all of the bases. Doug Glanville got three. Amaury Telemaco saved the day with a slick glove.
In keeping with the season's theme, however, the Phillies discovered yesterday that Pat Burrell miss at least the next few games, as the strained left wrist he suffered Tuesday is examined in Philadelphia tomorrow.
That gives manager Larry Bowa the impetus to experiment with what team observers had long suggested: placing speedy backup second baseman Chasey Utley and his effective bat in leftfield to help boost the offense, especially if Burrell - slugger Jim Thome's protection - is hindered for a long period.
"There's nothing you can do about it unless Utley can play leftfield," Bowa said after Utley contributed two hits in the 7-5 win over the Padres last night. "I'm going to talk to [general manager Ed Wade] about it. We'll see what happens."
Burrell's injury tempered Bowa's pleasure with winning two straight games after starting the 13-ame road trip 1-6.
"It's always nice to win games," Bowa said.
The Phillies kept pace behind the Braves in the National League East. The win kept them 4 ½ games back and lent relief to the resigned, if not placid, cragged visage of the Phillies' embattled skipper, who lately has received as many endorsements from his constituency and bosses as, oh, Tony Blair.
Eric Milton made it through a spotty five-plus innings, but left with a lead. That came largely thanks to Glanville, who started in leftfield in place of Burrell.
In Burrell's place, Glanville tripled home Milton, who walked to start the third inning, and Rollins, who doubled. Bobby Abreu followed with an RBI double, moved to third on Jim Thome's groundout and scored on Chase Utley's second hit of the night, making it 4-0.
"Those runs at that time were big," Bowa said.
Milton gave up solo home runs to Ramon Hernandez and Khalil Greene in the bottom of the frame, Greene's the first to land in the third balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. warehouse in leftfield.
Rollins got one back in the fourth with a two-out, inside-the-park homer that landed in the rightfield corner and eluded Brian Giles.
Utley got to second in the fifth after Phil Nevin's error at first base, which cost the Padres another run when David Bell homered to make it 7-2.
Terrence Long pinch-hit for pitcher Adam Eaton in the bottom of the inning, and his single was followed by doubles from Rich Aurilia and Mark Loretta that cut the Phillies' lead to 7-4. Milton, as usual, was pitching to the score, supplying drama even as his team supports his effort. He has spent most of the season enjoying the best run support in the NL and entered last night getting 6.85 runs a game, third best.
Milton was good enough last night, and moved to 12-2 despite giving up five runs on seven hits in five innings, his second straight outing going less than six innings and giving up at least five runs. He took over the NL lead with 28 homers surrendered.
"He got a win on his birthday, anyway," Bowa said.
Milton left after giving up a leadoff double to Brian Buchanan to start the sixth. Roberto Hernandez entered, got two outs, gave up a ground-ball hit to Long and Milton's fifth run for a 7-5 lead, surrendered another hit to Greene before leaving in favor of Telemaco.
Prescient move. Telemaco had great karma.
Aurilia laced a grounder right back at Telemaco, the sort that, had it gotten past him, would have trimmed the lead to one run with Loretta, the NL's hits leader, coming up.
Telemaco crouched, snuck his glove behind his left heel and, with his back to the ball, snagged it. He flipped to first, leaving the Padres pounding sand.
Todd Jones' efficient seventh and Felix Rodriguez's three-hit, one-doubleplay eighth further validated their recent acquisitions and preserved the lead for Tim Worrell, who allowed two runners on base in the ninth, but held on for his 12th save of the season, and 10th in 11 opportunities since assuming the closer's role in Billy Wagner's absence.
The bump between Milton and Worrell caused Bowa to smile widely and say, "We'd like to bridge it a little [smoother]."
And the beat, dimmer and softer, goes on.