On a day that the Phils beat the July 31 trade deadline by trading 2 time all star rightfielder Bobby Abreu (8 HRs, 65 RBIs, .277 BA) and starting pitcher  Cory Lidle (8-7) to the NY Yankees for a Yanks relief pitcher and 3 minor leaguers, the Phils offense continued it’s break-out of Saturday by sweeping a doubleheader from the Florida Marlins by scores of 11-5 and 9-2.  That’s 32 runs in 3 games. 

Comment about the Abreu, Lidle trade as well as the trade of 3rd baseman David Bell (6 HRs, 34 RBIs, .275 BA) to the Milwaukee Brewers will follow in a different report.

 In the first game, lefthanded starter Randy Wolf made his first start for the Phils since being out for more than a year after year after having surgery on his left arm. Wolf labored, throwing 97 pitches in 4 1-3 innings, in his first start since June, 2005.

Florida jumped out to an early 2-0 lead scoring 1 run in the first inning as leftfielder Josh Willingham (15 HRs, 53 RBIs) singled in a run and catcher Miguel Olivo (11 HRs, 38 RBIs, .286 BA) solo homered in the 4th off of Wolf. 

In the Phils 4th inning however, they lit into Florida starter and losing pitcher Anibal Sanchez (4-1) for 5 runs on centerfielder Aaron Roward’s (10 HRs, 40 RBIs) RBI double and catcher Mike Lieberthal’s (2 HRs, 18 RBIs) grand slam, his 2nd homerun of the season.

Florida got 2 more runs in the 5th inning as Willingham clubbed a 2 run homer to left.  One of the runs was charged to Wolf who gave up 3 runs in his 4 1/3 innings of work and the other run was charged to lefthanded reliever Aaron Fultz (2-0) who relieved Wolf, pitched 2 2/3s innings and was credited with the win.

The Phils came back in their 5th inning with 4 more runs as 3rd baseman Abraham Nunez singled in 2 runs, Lieberthal singled driving in a run and shortstop Danny Sandoval, spelling Jimmy Rollins (12 HRs, 36 RBIs), got his 1st major league hit and first major league RBI.   9-4 Phillies after 5 innings.

In the Florida 8th inning, Willingham hit a solo homer off of Fultz who retired no one in the 8th and was relieved by Geoff Geary (6-0, 3.45 ERA) who got the side out with no further damage.

In the bottom of the 8th, Rowand’s RBI double scored 2 more insurance runs to end the scoring.

Phils 1st baseman Ryan Howard (35 HRs, 87 RBIs, .287 BA) tied a major league mark with five walks.  He scored 2 runs in the game without a scorer’s at bat.  

In the nightcap, the Phils and Ryan Madison (9-7) spotted the Marlins a 2-1 lead and then exploded on starter and losing pitcher Brian Moeller (5-8) and 2 other relievers for 6 in the 6th inning.

Phils leftfielder Pat Burrell (22 HRs, 68 RBIs) put the Phils up 1-0 early with a first inning solo blast.  In the 5th, Florida’s Willingham hit a solo blast, his 3rd homer of the doubleheader and 2nd baseman Dan Uggla (15 HRs, 59 RBIs, .296 BA) singled in the Marlin’s other run in the 6th inning.

In the Phils 6th inning, Phils 2nd baseman Jimmy Rollins solo homered, 2nd baseman Chase Utley (21 HRs, 69 RBIs, .327 BA) singled in a run, 1st baseman Ryan Howard drove in Utley with a 2 run shot to right center field and pinch hitter Shane Victorino (4 HRs, 19 RBIs. .266 BA) singled in 2 runs.  After 6 innings, Phils led 7-2.

Utley’s 6th inning single, along with his 2 hits in game one extended his hitting streak to 31 straight games.

In the 7th inning the Phils got 2 more insurance runs as Utley solo homered and Pat Burrell singled in a tun to close out the scoring.

Ryan Madison pitched one of his better games of the year giving up but 2 runs in 6 innings to earn the win.  The Phils bullpen was nearly perfect over the last 3 innings giving up but 2 hits and 1 walk.

For a full recap including box scores and play-by-plays on Sunday’s doubleheader, click here and here.

On Monday, the Phils hope to end this homestand on a winning note and to take four out of the five game series with the Marlins who have often in recent years been their nemesis.  Jon Lieber (4-7) heads for the mound for the Phils to be opposed by Josh Johnson (8-5, 2.60 ERA) for the Marlins.

For full coverage of Monday’s games in both leagues; previews, recaps, box scores and play-by-play coverage click here.

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 31st, 2006 at 8:48 am and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary
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