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  Saturday, Jul. 1 7:05pm ET
Philadelphia 4, Pittsburgh 3
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Paul Byrd pitched seven strong innings for his first win in almost two months as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 Saturday night.

Byrd (2-6), an All-Star last season, allowed five hits _ all for extra-bases _ and three runs, struck out five and walked one in his first win since May 3. It was Byrd's third straight strong start since being recalled from Triple-A Scranton on June 18.

Jeff Brantley pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in as many opportunities this season.

Bobby Abreu and Scott Rolen had run-scoring hits in the first, and Pat Burrell hit a two-run double off starter Bronson Arroyo (0-2) in the sixth as the Phillies extended their lead to 4-1.

Byrd breezed through the first six innings, but allowed two runs in the seventh as the Pirates got within 4-3.

Brian Giles walked, Kevin Young hit a double and John Vander Wal delivered a two-run double. But Byrd settled down to retire Aramis Ramirez on a grounder, Pat Meares fouled out to Rolen, who made a tough catch just in front of the Pirates dugout, and pinch-hitter Luis Sojo struck out.

With the Phillies leading 2-1 and the bases loaded in the sixth, Burrell hit a ball to the warning track in right where Vander Wal stumbled, and the ball tipped off his glove as two runs scored. The hit was ruled a double. Center fielder Giles recovered the ball, made a strong relay to second baseman Warren Morris, who cut down Mike Lieberthal at the plate.

The hit knocked Arroyo out of the game. The rookie right-hander allowed four runs, eight hits, struck out four and walked three.

The Phillies pushed across two runs in the first to take a 2-1 lead. Abreu's triple scored Doug Glanville with the tying run and Rolen knocked in Abreu with a RBI double.

Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the first when Jason Kendall tripled and scored on Wil Cordero's groundout.

Notes: Rolen extended his team-best hitting streak to 10. ... . The Pirates have turned double plays in each of the last five games (seven total during the span). ... Kendall threw out 2-of-3 baserunners, lifting his season average to .349 (22-of-63). ... Kendall became the first Pirates player to hit two triples in a game since Orlando Merced on Sept. 4, 1993, at Colorado. He has 15 career triples. ... Abreu is hitting a team-high .358 at Veterans Stadium. ... Giles is the only Pirates player to play in all 79 games. He also recorded his ML-best 11th outfield assist ... Burrell is 5-for-6 with 11 RBIs with the bases loaded. ... The game, which featured fireworks afterward, drew 48,406 _ the largest crowd for the Phillies this season. The previous best was 47,115 on April 10 against the New York Mets. ... Phillies reliever Mark Holzemer began the eighth and left after three pitches.

 


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