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Sunday, Jul. 2 1:35pm ET
Phillies clobber Pirates | |||||
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Give Rob Ducey a start and he makes the most of it. Ducey hit two homers and drove in a career-high five runs as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1 Sunday. Rookie Pat Burrell went 4-for-4 with two RBI and Curt Schilling pitched seven strong innings. The Phillies took two of three from Pittsburgh and recorded their fifth straight winning series. A day game following a night game, plus the fact that starting left fielder Ron Gant was nursing a stiff right knee, gave Ducey a chance to play. In 15 starts this season, Ducey has all six of his homers and 13 of his 16 RBI. "It's always a boost when you know you're in the starting lineup," he said. "It pumps you up." The problem was Ducey didn't even know about starting until he reached the ballpark. "(Bench coach Chuck) Cottier usually gives us a day's notice about starting, but I got out of here before he could let me know," said Ducey. Ducey surpassed his previous RBIs high of four set when he was with Toronto on April 22, 1998, against Kansas City. "Hitting two home runs was always something I wanted to do. It's something special." Ducey didn't need long to reach his goal as it took just two at-bats to record his first-ever two-homer game. Ducey connected on an inside fastball for a two-run shot off Todd Ritchie (5-5) in the second inning gave Philadelphia the lead for good at 2-1. In the third, after Mike Lieberthal and Burrell hit consecutive RBI singles made it 4-1, Ducey connected on an 0-2 pitch for a three-run homer off Ritchie. "That's a great contribution by Ducey," Phillies manager Terry Francona said. "We scuffled through the first two innings but we were able to put some runs up. That kind of thing just picks everybody up." So does winning. The Phillies, who embark on a four-game trip to Milwaukee, went 4-2 on the homestand. The club has won 13 of its last 19 games at Veterans Stadium and 11 of their last 16 overall. Ducey's starting role does appear to be limited. Gant, who received a cortisone shot in his right knee on Saturday, said he expects to be back in the starting lineup on Monday. Schilling (4-4) struck out 10 and walked none in seven innings. He gave up one run and eight hits -- among them a ground-rule double and single on his first three pitches. Schilling posted the 48th double-digit strikeout game of his career. He also helped himself with two of the Phillies' 15 hits. Burrell hit a double and three singles, and also walked. He has hit in eight of his last nine games, hitting .444 (16-for-36) over that span. "He swinging the bat very well," Francona said. "He's got a lot to learn, but he's adjusting very well to major league pitching." Schilling survived a shaky start, giving up Jason Kendall's RBI single on his third pitch. Schilling's toughest challenge came in the seventh when he worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam. He fanned Tike Redman and Jason Kendall to end the threat with his last pitch reaching 97 mph on the radar gun. "It seems that I have to get into a jam or I don't have my best stuff," said Schilling, who has allowed just five runs in his last 31 innings of work. "When I gotten into a jam lately, I've been able to reach back and make some good pitches. That's what happened in this game. We survived early and then put up some big numbers offensively." Pittsburgh, which had Schilling on the ropes in the first two innings, dropped its 12th of its last 18 games on the road. "We hit the ball good the first two innings but couldn't score," Pittsburgh manager Gene Lamont said. "After that, (Schilling) looked like he put it up a notch." Lieberthal and Burrell delivered RBI singles again in the sixth, making it 9-1. Game notesThe Phillies held their annual father-son/daughter game. Top hitting prospects included Zach Sefcik, 2, son of utilityman Kevin Sefcik; and Jamie Francona, 5, daughter of manager Terry Francona. ... Pirates 1B Kevin Young wasn't in the starting lineup. He is 1-for-21, including five strikeouts, against Schilling in his career. ... John Vander Wal and Warren Morris had back-to-back doubles in the second and the Pirates failed to score a run. Phillies SS Desi Relaford lost Vander Wal's popup in the sun. On the next pitch, Relaford mishandled a pop-fly down the left-field line. The play was also ruled a double. ... Phillies 3B Scott Rolen, 3-for-3 on Saturday, wasn't in the starting lineup. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Pittsburgh Clubhouse Philadelphia Clubhouse RECAPS Cleveland 7 Minnesota 1
Philadelphia 9
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