Phillie Bats Awaken in Win Over Pirates

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies got some offense for a change on Tuesday night, and only a wild pitch prevented Mike Lieberthal from hitting a grand slam homer.

His three-run homer was fine, thank you, in an 8-2 victory over Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, where the Phillies open a two-game series with the Dodgers today.

Lieberthal was batting with the bases loaded and the score tied, 1-1, in the fifth inning, when Pirate reliever Matt Ruebel (1-2) uncorked a wild pitch.

On the next pitch, Lieberthal hit his sixth home run of the season.

Lieberthal’s homer capped a four-run fifth inning for Philadelphia.

Phillie Manager Terry Francona was as much impressed with Lieberthal’s double to right in the second inning as he was with the home run.

“When he’s going to the opposite field, we know he’s going well and he’s a guy that can really help us,” Francona said.

Ruebel came in to pitch to Lieberthal in the fourth after Pittsburgh starter Francisco Cordova was hit in the left ankle by a hard one-hopper off the bat of Rob Butler and had to leave the game.

Cordova picked up the ball and threw out Butler, then fell to the ground, writhing in pain. He was attended to by the Pirate trainer and helped off the field.

Calvin Maduro (2-2) pitched seven effective innings, giving up two runs and eight hits for the Phillies. He struck out five and walked two.

Maduro and today’s starter against the Dodgers, Mark Leiter, have five of Philadelphia’s eight wins.

The Phillies backed Maduro with several fine defensive plays, particularly in the first inning.

With runners on first and second and one out, Mark Johnson hit a drive that right fielder Darren Daulton caught with a dive in the alley. Daulton, playing only his 11th game in right field, doubled Martin off second for his second assist in two games.

“We hit the ball well early, but they made some good defensive plays,” said Pittsburgh Manager Gene Lamont. “Maduro settled down and did a real good job. In the fifth inning they just blew us out.”

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NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: Philadelphia Phillies

WHERE: At Philadelphia

WHEN: Today 4 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m.