GAME THREAD: NL: PHILADELPHIA (64-56) at PITTSBURGH (50-69)

NL: PHILADELPHIA at PITTSBURGH

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PHILADELPHIA (11) AT PITTSBURGH (8) - HOW THEY SCORED
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PITTSBURGH 1ST: N McLouth walked. F Sanchez singled to right, N McLouth
scored. A LaRoche lined into double play, to first, F Sanchez doubled off
first. J Bay flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 0,
PITTSBURGH 1.

PHILADELPHIA 3RD: J Rollins doubled to deep left center. T Iguchi flied
out to right. P Burrell hit a ground rule double to left, J Rollins scored.
R Howard fouled out to third. A Rowand grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, PITTSBURGH 1.

PITTSBURGH 3RD: C Izturis singled to center. T Gorzelanny sacrificed to
catcher, C Izturis to second. C Izturis to third on passed ball by C Coste.
N McLouth walked. F Sanchez hit sacrifice fly to center, C Izturis scored.
N McLouth stole second. A LaRoche grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, PITTSBURGH 2.

PHILADELPHIA 5TH: J Rollins doubled to left. T Iguchi doubled to right
center, J Rollins scored. P Burrell singled to left, T Iguchi to third.
R Howard struck out looking. A Rowand homered to right center, T Iguchi and
P Burrell scored. J Werth singled to center. W Helms grounded into double play,
pitcher to shortstop to first, J Werth out at second.(4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 5, PITTSBURGH 2.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: R Paulino flied out to right. C Izturis grounded out to
shortstop. M Kata hit for T Gorzelanny. M Kata homered to right. N McLouth
grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, PITTSBURGH 3.

PHILADELPHIA 6TH: S Youman relieved T Gorzelanny. C Coste singled to
center. J Durbin sacrificed to pitcher, C Coste to second. J Rollins singled
to center, C Coste scored, J Rollins to second advancing on throw. T Iguchi
singled to center, J Rollins scored. P Burrell homered to left, T Iguchi
scored. R Howard struck out swinging. A Rowand grounded out to shortstop.
(4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 9, PITTSBURGH 3.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: C Condrey relieved J Durbin. A Nunez at third base.
J Castillo grounded out to first. R Paulino homered to center. C Izturis flied
out to left. J Phelps hit for S Youman. J Phelps singled to left. N McLouth
doubled to right, J Phelps to third. F Sanchez grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 9, PITTSBURGH 4.

PITTSBURGH 8TH: J Mesa relieved C Condrey. A LaRoche flied out to center.
J Bay walked. J Bautista homered to left, J Bay scored. J Castillo grounded
out to shortstop. R Paulino flied out to center. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 9, PITTSBURGH 6.

PHILADELPHIA 9TH: S Chacon relieved S Torres. R Howard walked. A Rowand
singled to center, R Howard to third. J Werth struck out swinging. G Dobbs
hit for J Mesa. G Dobbs walked, A Rowand to second. C Coste singled to center,
R Howard and A Rowand scored, G Dobbs to second. A Nunez grounded into
fielder's choice to third, G Dobbs out at third, C Coste to second. J Rollins
struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 11, PITTSBURGH 6.

PITTSBURGH 9TH: M Zagurski relieved J Mesa. C Izturis singled to left.
J Wilson hit for S Chacon. J Wilson doubled to deep left, C Izturis to third.
N McLouth grounded out to second, C Izturis scored, J Wilson to third. F Sanchez
grounded out to second, J Wilson scored. A LaRoche struck out looking.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 11, PITTSBURGH 8.</div>

 

NL: PHILADELPHIA at PITTSBURGH

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PHILADELPHIA (11) AT PITTSBURGH (8) - EVENT LOG
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Philadelphia Starting Lineups -- J Rollins SS, T Iguchi 2B, P Burrell LF,
R Howard 1B, A Rowand CF, J Werth RF, W Helms 3B, C Coste C, J Durbin RHP.

Pittsburgh Starting Lineups -- N McLouth CF, F Sanchez 2B, A LaRoche 1B, J Bay LF,
J Bautista RF, J Castillo 3B, R Paulino C, C Izturis SS, T Gorzelanny LHP.

Umpires -- Sam Holbrook (HP), Randy Marsh (1B), Hunter Wendelstedt (2B),
Brian Knight (3B).

Gametime Weather: 78 degrees, Clear, wind out to right at 12 mph.


PHILADELPHIA 1ST: J Rollins flied out to left. T Iguchi walked. P Burrell
walked, T Iguchi to second. R Howard popped out to third. A Rowand grounded
into fielder's choice to shortstop, P Burrell out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0
Errors) PHILADELPHIA 0, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 1ST: N McLouth walked. F Sanchez singled to right, N McLouth
scored. A LaRoche lined into double play, to first, F Sanchez doubled off
first. J Bay flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 0,
PITTSBURGH 1.

PHILADELPHIA 2ND: J Werth popped out to first. W Helms flied out to right.
C Coste singled to left. J Durbin flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 0, PITTSBURGH 1.

PITTSBURGH 2ND: J Bautista flied out to right. J Castillo grounded out to
first. R Paulino grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 0, PITTSBURGH 1.

PHILADELPHIA 3RD: J Rollins doubled to deep left center. T Iguchi flied
out to right. P Burrell hit a ground rule double to left, J Rollins scored.
R Howard fouled out to third. A Rowand grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, PITTSBURGH 1.

PITTSBURGH 3RD: C Izturis singled to center. T Gorzelanny sacrificed to
catcher, C Izturis to second. C Izturis to third on passed ball by C Coste.
N McLouth walked. F Sanchez hit sacrifice fly to center, C Izturis scored.
N McLouth stole second. A LaRoche grounded out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, PITTSBURGH 2.

PHILADELPHIA 4TH: J Werth singled to center. W Helms struck out looking.
C Coste struck out swinging. J Durbin grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 1, PITTSBURGH 2.

PITTSBURGH 4TH: J Bay struck out swinging. J Bautista grounded out to
shortstop. J Castillo flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 1, PITTSBURGH 2.

PHILADELPHIA 5TH: J Rollins doubled to left. T Iguchi doubled to right
center, J Rollins scored. P Burrell singled to left, T Iguchi to third.
R Howard struck out looking. A Rowand homered to right center, T Iguchi and
P Burrell scored. J Werth singled to center. W Helms grounded into double play,
pitcher to shortstop to first, J Werth out at second.(4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 5, PITTSBURGH 2.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: R Paulino flied out to right. C Izturis grounded out to
shortstop. M Kata hit for T Gorzelanny. M Kata homered to right. N McLouth
grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 5, PITTSBURGH 3.

PHILADELPHIA 6TH: S Youman relieved T Gorzelanny. C Coste singled to
center. J Durbin sacrificed to pitcher, C Coste to second. J Rollins singled
to center, C Coste scored, J Rollins to second advancing on throw. T Iguchi
singled to center, J Rollins scored. P Burrell homered to left, T Iguchi
scored. R Howard struck out swinging. A Rowand grounded out to shortstop.
(4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 9, PITTSBURGH 3.

PITTSBURGH 6TH: C Roberson in right field. J Werth in left field. F Sanchez
flied out to left. A LaRoche singled to right center. J Bay struck out
swinging. J Bautista struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 9, PITTSBURGH 3.

PHILADELPHIA 7TH: J Werth grounded out to shortstop. W Helms doubled to
deep left center. C Coste flied out to right. A Nunez hit for J Durbin.
A Nunez grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 9,
PITTSBURGH 3.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: C Condrey relieved J Durbin. A Nunez at third base.
J Castillo grounded out to first. R Paulino homered to center. C Izturis flied
out to left. J Phelps hit for S Youman. J Phelps singled to left. N McLouth
doubled to right, J Phelps to third. F Sanchez grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 9, PITTSBURGH 4.

PHILADELPHIA 8TH: S Torres relieved S Youman. J Rollins lined out to
center. T Iguchi struck out swinging. C Roberson flied out to center.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 9, PITTSBURGH 4.

PITTSBURGH 8TH: J Mesa relieved C Condrey. A LaRoche flied out to center.
J Bay walked. J Bautista homered to left, J Bay scored. J Castillo grounded
out to shortstop. R Paulino flied out to center. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
PHILADELPHIA 9, PITTSBURGH 6.

PHILADELPHIA 9TH: S Chacon relieved S Torres. R Howard walked. A Rowand
singled to center, R Howard to third. J Werth struck out swinging. G Dobbs
hit for J Mesa. G Dobbs walked, A Rowand to second. C Coste singled to center,
R Howard and A Rowand scored, G Dobbs to second. A Nunez grounded into
fielder's choice to third, G Dobbs out at third, C Coste to second. J Rollins
struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 11, PITTSBURGH 6.

PITTSBURGH 9TH: M Zagurski relieved J Mesa. C Izturis singled to left.
J Wilson hit for S Chacon. J Wilson doubled to deep left, C Izturis to third.
N McLouth grounded out to second, C Izturis scored, J Wilson to third. F Sanchez
grounded out to second, J Wilson scored. A LaRoche struck out looking.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PHILADELPHIA 11, PITTSBURGH 8.</div>

 

Rowand, Burrell homer to lead Phillies

<h3>PHILADELPHIA 11, PITTSBURGH 8</h3>PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- After struggling to score just nine runsin a three-game series against one last place team, thePhiladelphia Phillies had hoped to get their offense back ontrack versus another. Against the National League CentralDivision doormat Pittsburgh Pirates, the surging Phillies didjust that - and more.


Behind 16 hits and two four-run innings, the Phillies foundtheir offensive groove once again on Friday night, rolling pastthe Pirates, 11-8.


With the win, Philadelphia (65-56) won for the eighth time in 11games and remained in second place in the NL Eastern Division,three games behind the New York Mets (68-53) winners over aWashington club that had stymied the Phillies the past threegames. On this night, however, the Phillies bats awoke.

Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand both broke out of slumps - eachhitting three-run home runs - while Burrell and Jimmy Rollinsnetted three hits apiece.


"It was a matter of time before we started swinging the batsagain," Rowand said. "You're going to have those ups and havethose downs in the course of a season. We really came outswinging the bats better tonight and got a win."


After trailing 2-1 and being limited to just a run on four hitsthrough four innings against Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny(11-7), the Phillies broke through in a big way in the fifth.

Back-to-back doubles by Rollins and Tadahito Iguchi tied thescore at 2-2, and Burrell then followed with a single to putrunners on first and third. After Ryan Howard was called out onstrikes, Rowand hit a three-run home run, his 20th of theseason, to give the Phillies a 5-2 advantage.


"We got guys on base, and when we got them on base, wecapitalized in getting them in," said Burrell.


Pittsburgh cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the frame, aspinch hitter Matt Kata hit his first home run as a Pirate. Itwas the sixth home run for a Pirates pinch hitter this season.After Gorzelanny exited the game, the Phillies treated relieverShane Youman much the same in a four-run sixth inning.

A Rollins single - his third hit of the game - plated ChrisCoste, who led off the inning with a single. An Iguchi singlebrought home Rollins and Burrell extended the Phillies lead to9-3 when he hit an 0-1 pitch just inside the left-field foulpole for his 18th home run and 1,000 hit of his career.

"I had never even thought about it," Burrell said about themilestone. "It's nice, but then you look also at guys that have3,000. It seems like a small number compared to some of theother guys."


Phillies starter J.D. Durbin (5-2) won his fifth consecutivedecision, giving up three runs - two earned - and four hits insix innings. The righthander walked two and struck out three.

"It was a good outing," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said."Durbin did fine. He threw strikes when he absolutely had to.As the game went, too, he started getting his slider overbetter."


The Pirates later attempted to make a comeback with two homeruns, but could only cut the Phillies lead in half.

Ronnie Paulino hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, andJose Bautista followed the next inning with a two-run shot.Philadelphia added two more runs in the ninth inning on a Costetwo-run single, while the Pirates matched them with a pair ofRBI groundouts by Nate McLouth and Freddy Sanchez.

"I give our offense credit," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said."They kept battling. We took some good at-bats."


It was the fourth loss in five games for the Pirates, whocontinue to be saddled with the National League's worst record(50-70). Sanchez knocked in each of the Pirates first two runs,as well, an RBI single in the first inning and a sacrifice flyin the third, and has now reached base safely in 19 straightgames.


Gorzelanny, one of the few bright spots for the Pirates thisseason, struggled for the first time in three starts since a13-day layoff due to a sore shoulder. The lefthander surrenderedfive earned runs and nine hits over five innings, after beingtagged for just two runs in 16 innings of work in winning hisprevious two starts.


"Command was the biggest thing," Gorzelanny said. "I don't thinkmy changeup was going that well. This whole game I wasn'thitting my spots. I made a bunch of mistake pitches and theytook advantage of them."

 

Rowand, Burrell homer to lead Phillies

<h3>PHILADELPHIA 11, PITTSBURGH 8</h3>By Brad Everett
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- After struggling to score just nine runsin a three-game series against one last place team, thePhiladelphia Phillies had hoped to get their offense back ontrack versus another. Against the National League CentralDivision doormat Pittsburgh Pirates, the surging Phillies didjust that - and more.


Behind 16 hits and two four-run innings, the Phillies foundtheir offensive groove once again on Friday night, rolling pastthe Pirates, 11-8.


With the win, Philadelphia (65-56) won for the eighth time in 11games and remained in second place in the NL Eastern Division,three games behind the New York Mets (68-53) winners over aWashington club that had stymied the Phillies the past threegames. On this night, however, the Phillies bats awoke.

Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand both broke out of slumps - eachhitting three-run home runs - while Burrell and Jimmy Rollinsnetted three hits apiece.


"It was a matter of time before we started swinging the batsagain," Rowand said. "You're going to have those ups and havethose downs in the course of a season. We really came outswinging the bats better tonight and got a win."


After trailing 2-1 and being limited to just a run on four hitsthrough four innings against Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny(11-7), the Phillies broke through in a big way in the fifth.

Back-to-back doubles by Rollins and Tadahito Iguchi tied thescore at 2-2, and Burrell then followed with a single to putrunners on first and third. After Ryan Howard was called out onstrikes, Rowand hit a three-run home run, his 20th of theseason, to give the Phillies a 5-2 advantage.


"We got guys on base, and when we got them on base, wecapitalized in getting them in," said Burrell.


Pittsburgh cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the frame, aspinch hitter Matt Kata hit his first home run as a Pirate. Itwas the sixth home run for a Pirates pinch hitter this season.After Gorzelanny exited the game, the Phillies treated relieverShane Youman much the same in a four-run sixth inning.

A Rollins single - his third hit of the game - plated ChrisCoste, who led off the inning with a single. An Iguchi singlebrought home Rollins and Burrell extended the Phillies lead to9-3 when he hit an 0-1 pitch just inside the left-field foulpole for his 18th home run and 1,000 hit of his career.

"I had never even thought about it," Burrell said about themilestone. "It's nice, but then you look also at guys that have3,000. It seems like a small number compared to some of theother guys."


Phillies starter J.D. Durbin (5-2) won his fifth consecutivedecision, giving up three runs - two earned - and four hits insix innings. The righthander walked two and struck out three.

"It was a good outing," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said."Durbin did fine. He threw strikes when he absolutely had to.As the game went, too, he started getting his slider overbetter."


The Pirates later attempted to make a comeback with two homeruns, but could only cut the Phillies lead in half.

Ronnie Paulino hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, andJose Bautista followed the next inning with a two-run shot.Philadelphia added two more runs in the ninth inning on a Costetwo-run single, while the Pirates matched them with a pair ofRBI groundouts by Nate McLouth and Freddy Sanchez.

"I give our offense credit," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said."They kept battling. We took some good at-bats."


It was the fourth loss in five games for the Pirates, whocontinue to be saddled with the National League's worst record(50-70). Sanchez knocked in each of the Pirates first two runs,as well, an RBI single in the first inning and a sacrifice flyin the third, and has now reached base safely in 19 straightgames.


Gorzelanny, one of the few bright spots for the Pirates thisseason, struggled for the first time in three starts since a13-day layoff due to a sore shoulder. The lefthander surrenderedfive earned runs and nine hits over five innings, after beingtagged for just two runs in 16 innings of work in winning hisprevious two starts.


"Command was the biggest thing," Gorzelanny said. "I don't thinkmy changeup was going that well. This whole game I wasn'thitting my spots. I made a bunch of mistake pitches and theytook advantage of them."