Phillies Erupt Over Expos

The Philadelphia Phillies are looking forward to their most important stretch of the season.

Johnny Estrada hit an RBI double to begin a six-run fifth inning and drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the burst, leading Philadelphia over the Montreal Expos 12-4 Sunday.

Scott Rolen had four RBIs, including a three-run double in the seventh.

"These are the most meaningful games I`ve ever played in the big leagues," Rolen said.

Philadelphia began the day 3½ games behind Atlanta in the NL East. The Phillies are off Monday, then begin a three-game series against the Braves at Turner Field on Tuesday night.

"This should be a great series," Rolen said. "We`re going down to Atlanta and hopefully there will be a good atmosphere. We need to go down and win a series. To go down and sweep them would be unbelievable, but right now we need to win a series."

Seven of Philadelphia`s next 10 games are against the Braves.

"We know runs aren`t going to be as easy to get against that staff," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "We have to hope our pitchers do their job and hopefully we can battle them. Obviously it`s a bigger series for us than it is for them."

The Phillies overcame a three-run deficit by scoring 11 times in three innings to win three of four in Montreal after losing seven of eight.

Travis Lee drew three of Philadelphia`s 11 walks off eight Expos pitchers.

"They struggled to find the zone a little bit today and we were patient enough to take some walks and get some guys on," Rolen said. "You mix in some hits and before you know it you throw up two, three, or four runs."

Cliff Politte (2-2) allowed one hit in 2 1-3 innings in relief of Omar Daal, who left after giving up four runs in four innings.

Graeme Lloyd (8-5) failed to retire any of the five batters he faced.

"I`m disappointed with myself and how things happened," Lloyd said. "I`m not happy."

Trailing 4-1, Doug Glanville singled off Masato Yoshii to lead off the fifth and scored on Estrada`s double. Lloyd relieved with one out and walked Jimmy Rollins, then hit Marlon Anderson with a pitch to load the bases.

Bobby Abreu hit an RBI grounder to second baseman Jose Vidro, who misplayed it for an error, allowing the tying run to run. Rolen followed with an RBI single.

A walk to Lee loaded the bases, and Darwin Cubillan relieved as Lloyd left to a chorus of boos. Pinch-hitter Felipe Crespo hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-4.

Glanville walked to load the bases and Estrada drew the Phillies` fourth walk of the inning to increase the lead to three.

"Bases on balls, a hit batter, and mix in an error – it just doesn`t make for a very pretty inning," Expos manager Jeff Torborg said. "We just couldn`t stop them."

Philadelphia added two more runs in the sixth to increase its lead to 9-4 on Abreu`s RBI double and Crespo`s second straight sacrifice fly.

Rolen`s three-run double in the seventh put the game out of reach.

Tony Armas Jr. allowed one hit, Rollins` RBI single in the third, before leaving the game in the bottom half of the inning with a strained muscle in his left lower back.

Notes:
Just 5,480 attended the game despite a "fiesta day" promotion. ... Phillies pinch-hitter Nick Punto singled in the eighth in his first major league at-bat. ... The Expos allowed a team-record 15 walks against Cincinnati on July 9, 1973.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News