Phillies Win With Changed Lineup

Larry Bowa may have found the right combination at the most crucial time. Brian Hunter drove in three runs and Bobby Abreu had three hits as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Montreal Expos 8-4 Wednesday for their second straight win since a lineup shakeup.

Scott Rolen, Abreu and Travis Lee – the new 3-4-5 hitters – combined for six hits, four runs and three RBIs. Hunter, who hit sixth, went 2-for-4. Philadelphia had 13 hits, giving the Phillies 27 in two games since Bowa shook up his lineup.

"We`re going to stay with it and see how it goes," said Bowa, the Phillies` manager. "We`ve put up some good numbers, but it`s just two games."

Marlon Anderson, the new No. 2 hitter, went 2-for-3 with two walks and has four hits and three walks in the new slot.

Doug Glanville, who didn`t start the series finale, will return to his leadoff spot on Thursday. Jimmy Rollins, who hit second for the majority of the season, will drop to seventh.

"Whatever the lineup is, the consistency has to be there," Anderson said. "Right now, we`re getting the job done at the plate. That`s so important to this team. I`ll take my role whatever or wherever it is. I know I can do more things at the top of the lineup."

Hunter was 3-for-8 in the two games, while regulars Pat Burrell and Glanville each was given a day off.

"You start to get your timing down when you get three or four at-bats during a game," Hunter said. "It was fun to start a couple games in a row. I think that will give me even more confidence when I`m coming off the bench in a key spot."

Montreal manager Jeff Torborg was impressed with the Phillies new look.

"They`ve got a good lineup that keeps coming at you," he said.

The Phillies, who remained one game behind Atlanta in the NL East, won two of three from Montreal and start a 10-game trip Thursday at New York.

"This is a monster trip," Bowa said. "It`s the first time for a three-city road trip this year. It`s very critical for this team. If you`re contending and you can come out of that unscathed, you`ve got a chance."

Robert Person (9-5) won his third straight start, giving up four runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings with seven strikeouts. Ricky Bottalico, Jose Santiago and Jose Mesa combined for shutout, two-hit relief.

"I`ve been able to establish the inside part of the plate, keep the fastball down and locate the curveball late in the count over the last couple of starts," Person said.

Mike Thurman (5-7) gave up seven runs – six earned – and eight hits in three innings for the Expos, who have lost four of five.

"I didn`t have good command," he said. "I had a decent first innings, and the wheels came off. I wasn`t happy with my location either."

Hunter hit an RBI single in the second and had a two-run double in a four-run third that also included Abreu`s RBI single and Burrell`s sacrifice fly.

Michael Barrett hit a two-run homer in the fourth, Lee`s sacrifice fly and errors by left fielder Brad Wilkerson and pitcher Scott Stewart made it 7-2 in the fifth.

Orlando Cabrera homered in the sixth.

Notes: Person is 5-0 in his last nine starts. ... The Phillies stole two bases, raising their total to 101 – one short of last year`s total. ... Before Tuesday`s lineup change, the Phillies hit .234 with 45 runs in 12 games, including a 10-1 win against the New York Mets on July 20. ... Vladimir Guerrero went 0-for-4, snapping his 12-game hitting streak. He is hitting .545 (24-for-44) against the Phillies this season. ... Rolen went 6-for-12 with four RBIs in the series.

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

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)