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| Eaton wins first as Phils complete sweep of Rockies PHILADELPHIA 6, COLORADO 1 |
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By Larry Dougherty PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) - Chase Utley and Geoff Jenkins provided the offense while Adam Eaton allowed just one run in notching his first win of the season as the Philadelphia Phillies posted a 6-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. Utley connected for a three-run homer, his league-leading 17th of the season, to break a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning and Jenkins followed three batters later with a two-run shot. That was more than enough for Eaton (1-3), who allowed just four hits over six innings in his best outing of the season. It was the first-ever three-game sweep by the Phillies over the Rockies as Philadelphia extracted a bit of revenge over the team that swept it out of the playoffs last season. The win also completes a season sweep over the Rockies as the Phillies won the two meetings at Coors Field in April. "Last year was last year," Utley said on the team's dominance of Colorado. "Obviously it is a new year. They have some injuries over there, but overall we played pretty well." The explosive Phillies offense, which scored 42 runs the previous three games, managed only a first-inning bases loaded walk against Rockies starter Greg Reynolds (0-2) over the first four innings. Reynolds, making just his fourth major league start, settled down after walking three in the first, including Jenkins with the bases loaded. He allowed just one hit, a Pat Burrell double, over the next three innings. The Rockies were able to tie the game in the third on three consecutive two-out singles. Todd Helton's base hit to left plated Willy Taveras, but Seth Smith was gunned down at the plate in a run down to end the inning. The Colorado rookie hurler then got into trouble again in the fifth. He opened the frame with walks to Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino and Utley made him pay with a blast to the upper deck in right to make it 4-1. Reynolds then walked Ryan Howard and one batter later it was Jenkins connected on a two-run homer to push the lead to 6-1. "It all starts with the top of the lineup, guys getting on Jimmy and Shane," Utley said of the offense. "The more guys you have on, the more you are going to score." Overall Reynolds walked eight Phillies in his 5 2/3 innings of work. He entered the game with seven walks in his three previous outings (17 2/3 innings). "I can't really put any one thing on it," Reynolds said of his control problems. "I think I was probably a little quick out of the stretch. My (pitching) arm was probably lagging behind. That's why you saw a lot of balls miss to my arm side of home plate." "The seven walks, discounting the intentional walk, was very uncharacteristic of what we've seen from Greg in his initial three starts," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "I think he tried to do a little more than he's capable of, especially in the fifth. He just got outside himself a little bit." Victorino, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games, had three hits, scored twice and stole two bases. Eaton, who had compiled a 6.43 ERA while losing three of his last four starts, settled in, allowing just one hit over the next two innings before leaving the game in the seventh. "It was a weird feeling," Eaton said. "I have quite a few (career) wins under my belt, and have pitched with leads before, but it was definitely nice to get that one out of the way." "It was very important for him to get a win," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "It will definitely help him and that is back-to-back outings where he pitched pretty good." The Phillies bullpen, which entered play with the lowest ERA (2.86) in the National League, closed the door. The trio of Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin held the Rockies scoreless over the final three frames. Philadelphia now has won a season-high four straight games while the Rockies dropped their third in a row. The Phillies, with their red-hot bats, host division leading Florida in a three-game series starting Friday. "Hitting is contagious," Utley said. "You see one guy do well and you want to do well yourself. Overall we are putting good at-bats together and I think we will enjoy our day off and come out Friday ready to go." |
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