Rookies Keep Phillies Rockin

A trio of former minor league pitchers is making major contributions for the Philadelphia Phillies.

David Coggin pitched 6 1-3 innings and doubled for his first major league hit and RBI as the Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Coggin (3-1) allowed six hits and three runs – two earned – in his second straight victory. The rookie right-hander has combined with former Triple-A teammates Brandon Duckworth and Nelson Figueroa to go 4-0 in their last four starts.

"They`ve been tremendous," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "They don`t take us just five innings, they`ve taken us pretty deep into games and that`s important."

Bowa knows about rookie pitchers. He was teammates with then-rookies Bob Walk and Marty Bystrom – two key pitching cogs when the Phillies won the franchise`s lone world championship in 1980.

However, this trio has become a little bit of a surprise for the Phillies` first-year manager.

"Considering the situation these guys have been brought into, I haven`t seen something like this before," he said. "They`ve done a tremendous job of keeping their composure out there."

Rheal Cormier got four outs, Ricky Bottalico retired the only batter he faced in the eighth, and Jose Mesa worked the ninth for his 29th save in 31 opportunities.

After D`Angelo Jimenez singled with one out in the second inning, Coggin retired the next 15 hitters. During the streak, Coggin allowed only three balls to reach the outfield.

"It was tough (with the heat conditions)," said Coggin, who was the first of the three pitchers to be recalled on June 28. "You have to stay in control of yourself to get through that stuff. I was able to keep the ball down during that stretch."

Bubba Trammell drew a one-out walk in the seventh to end the string, and Ben Davis added a single. Jimenez followed with an RBI single, with Davis scoring and Jimenez advancing to second on right fielder Bobby Abreu`s throw into the Padres` dugout.

Cormier relieved Coggin and walked pinch-hitter Tony Gwynn. Damian Jackson then hit a liner back to Cormier, who doubled Jimenez off at second base to end the inning.

The effective work by the bullpen was a welcome sign for the Phillies after the team had lost four games on the recent 10-game road trip by way of walk-off homers.

"We needed something like this to help us get back that positive attitude," Bottalico said. "The problem was all (the walk-off homers) came in a big clump."

Philadelphia rallied to take a 2-1 lead off Junior Herndon (0-1) in the third. Jimmy Rollins doubled and scored on Marlon Anderson`s RBI single. Scott Rolen reached on a fielder`s choice and came home on Abreu`s RBI double off the left-field fence.

Four consecutive two-out hits enabled the Phillies to pad the lead to 4-1 in the fourth. Coggin delivered his first major league hit – an RBI double to right field – and Rollins followed with a RBI single to center.

Coggin, who watched Duckworth stroke his first ML hit the night before, broke an 0 for 16 skid.

"It was blind luck," he said. "I didn`t even see where the ball was going."

Everyone wasn`t thrilled with Coggin`s milestone.

"His first hit couldn`t have come at a worse time for us," San Diego manager Bochy said. "That was the difference in the game."

San Diego also wasn`t pleased with the ball-and-strike calls of home plate umpire Doug Eddings. Ryan Klesko, Phil Nevin and Ray Lankford all questioned pitches during key points in the game.

"There was a lot of frustration," Bochy said. "(Eddings) is definitely lenient with both sides of the plate and their pitchers took advantage of it. That makes it tough for a hitter."

Herndon allowed four runs on 10 hits.

Jackson hit the fourth pitch of the game over the left-field fence to give San Diego the lead. It was Jackson`s third homer of the season.

Notes: Abreu extended his hitting streak to 11 games and stole his career-high 29th base in the third. ... Gwynn received a standing ovation when he pinch hit in the seventh. Thursday will mark his final game at Veterans Stadium. ... Rollins stole his 32nd straight base to push his NL-best total to 37. ... The game-time temperature was 98 degrees for the second consecutive night.

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

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News