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Wednesday, Sep. 13 7:05pm ET
Phillies explode for 19 hits, 15 runs | |||||
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GAME LOG
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Baseball can be an odd game, and Phillies starter Bruce Chen is the perfect example why. After going three games in which he allowed just one run but did not get a decision, Chen (7-2) got a win Wednesday night despite lasting just five innings and giving up five runs and seven hits as Philadelphia beat the Montreal Expos, 15-5. "It's amazing," Phillies manager Terry Francona said of Chen's streak. "There is some justice." The Phillies erupted for 19 hits in their highest-scoring game of the season. Scott Rolen had two triples, a double, three RBI and two runs scored, and Pat Burrell homered and also drove in three runs for Philadelphia. "After I gave up the five runs there wasn't much I could do," Chen said. "But the team came through for me." Vladimir Guerrero hit his 37th home run for Montreal and pitcher Felipe Lira also connected. He hit a pitch less than a foot off the dirt with a one-handed swing. Rolen, who began the game with only three triples this season, tripled to spark a five-run fifth inning. The Phillies scored four more in the sixth. "It's nice to see the guys have some fun around the bases," Francona said. "It's a nice feeling that hasn't happened to us much this season." Chen fell behind 5-2 after the top of the fourth. Guerrero's two-run homer in the first ended Chen's streak of 20 2/3 scoreless innings. He gave up seven hits and walked two, ending his string of four no-decisions with his first victory since Aug. 6. Lira (4-6) made an emergency start after Trey Moore felt stiffness in his shoulder. Lira, who pitched an inning out of the bullpen during Monday's doubleheader, worked four-plus innings, giving up six runs -- five earned -- and 10 hits. "We knew we'd be in trouble when Moore said he couldn't go," Expos manager Felipe Alou said. "Lira battled but then he got hit. So did everyone else who came in." In the fourth, Lira hit his second homer of the season to give the Expos a 5-2 lead. Lira left in the fifth after the first four hitters reached base, capped by Rolen's triple and an RBI single by Burrell that tied it at 5. Scott Forster relieved, but did not record an out, walking the first two batters and surrendering an RBI single to Tomas Perez. Julio Santana came on and allowed one run to score on an infield grounder. Rolen hit another RBI triple in the sixth and scored on an error by third baseman Mike Mordecai. Tom Prince added an RBI double and pinch-hitter Kevin Jordan had a run-scoring single. In the seventh, Burrell hit his 15th homer, a two-run shot to the upper deck in left field, the second time he has done it this season. "It got ugly out there," Alou said. Guerrero hit a two-run homer to left-center field in the first inning on a half-swing. He appeared to be fooled on the pitch, but still managed to muscle it into the seats. "He just keeps getting better," Alou said of Guerrero. "He's Mr. September. It's too bad we don't play another month." Game notesThe last Phillies player to hit two triples in a game was Midre Cummings on Sept. 19, 1997, against the Cubs. ... Chen's scoreless streak was the third-longest streak in the NL this season. ... The Expos completed their longest road trip of the season at 6-8. ... Guerrero was intentionally walked for the 22nd time, most for the Expos since Tim Raines had 26 in 1987. ... The Phillies' 15 runs were just four fewer than their total during a recent nine-game road trip. ... Phillies backup C Gary Bennett left the team to join his wife in Chicago and await the birth of their first child. ... Philadelphia first-string C Mike Lieberthal underwent arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday to remove some small spurs and thickness in his right elbow. He will rejoin the team over the weekend to begin therapy. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Montreal Clubhouse Philadelphia Clubhouse RECAPS Minnesota 7 Oakland 6
Philadelphia 15
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