Phillies Sweep Doublheader

Unbeaten Omar Daal got his sixth win as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 Wednesday night for their first doubleheader sweep in nearly three years. In the opener, Randy Wolf allowed two hits in 7 1-3 innings and Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer in a 4-0 win.

Philadelphia, the surprising NL East leader, has won five of six, while Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 15. The Phillies` previous sweep was against Florida on July 24, 1998. Pittsburgh hadn`t lost a pair since July 30, 1996, against the New York Mets.

Daal, who was 4-19 last season, is the first Phillies pitcher to open 6-0 since Mike Grace in 1996. Backed by two RBIs each from Scott Rolen and Travis Lee, Daal gave up two runs and nine hits in seven-plus innings.

Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances.

Pittsburgh got its first run in the doubleheader on Keith Osik`s homer leading off the seventh, ending Daal`s 14-inning scoreless streak.

Pittsburgh, which has the lowest batting average in the majors, got another run in the eighth on Aramis Ramirez`s RBI infield single.

Omar Olivares (2-5) allowed nine hits in Pittsburgh`s first complete game this season, the 16th of his career.

Pittsburgh`s Jason Kendall started the second game in left field, the first time he has played in the outfield in his career.

Philadelphia took a 4-0 lead in the fourth on Rolen`s RBI single, Lee`s two-run down and Pat Burrell`s RBI double. Rolen singled home another run in the fifth.

In the opener, Wolf (4-4) struck out 10, matched his season high, in winning his third straight decision. It is his third double-digit strikeout performance in his last four starts, and fifth of his career.

Ricky Bottalico recorded his second save in the combined three-hitter by going 1 2-3 innings.

Pirates starter Jason Schmidt (1-2) went five innings in his fourth start since returning from shoulder surgery. He gave up four runs, nine hits and five walks while striking out seven.

Doug Glanville led off the first with a walk and Rollins, who had three hits, followed with a home run off the right-field foul pole. Bobby Abreu then singled and scored on a single by Pat Burrell.

The Phillies added a run in the fifth on an RBI single by Wolf, who had left the bases loaded in his first two at bats. It was Wolf`s first hit of the season.

Notes:
Schmidt struck out Lee in the first inning to record his 600th career strikeout. ... Burrell`s stolen base in the fifth inning was the first of his career. He was on the front end of a double steal and the pitch by Schmidt bounced past Kendall. ... Schmidt threw 110 pitches in five innings, the most he has thrown since returning from the disabled list. ... The Phillies also swept the Pirates in 1995, the last time the teams met in a doubleheader. ... The Phillies have won six of their last seven series.

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

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News