Abbott Handles Heat and Phillies

The Veterans Stadium turf in Philadelphia was well done at 160 degrees before Monday night’s game.

Not long ago, many believed Jim Abbott was done too, so Abbott was right at home.

Abbott turned in his best start of the season for Milwaukee, giving up three hits in six innings as the Brewers defeated the Phillies, 5-0, for their fifth consecutive victory.

“I know my record’s not great this year, but I’ve enjoyed it,” said Abbott (2-7), who beat the sweltering heat for his first victory since May 30. “I’m seeing new cities, new teams and new ballplayers.”

Among Phillies, only Rob Ducey had ever faced Abbott, and Ducey didn’t play. The Phillies were shut out a day after setting a club record with 41 runs in a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs.

“As Curt Schilling said, sometimes it’s not how you pitch, it’s when you pitch,” said Philadelphia starter Chad Ogea (4-8), who gave up his NL-leading 23rd and 24th homers.

On a day when Philadelphia tied an 80-year-old record with a high temperature of 100 degrees, the Brewers were hotter with homers by Jeff Cirillo, Dave Nilsson and Jeromy Burnitz. Nilsson’s two-run shot in the fourth inning was his 19th, and Burnitz hit his 24th home run off Steve Schrenk in the eighth.

The game-time temperature was 96 degrees.

“After about the sixth inning, you could see guys were sapped,” said Brewer Manager Phil Garner, whose team improved to 29-18 on the road.

Abbott walked three, struck out three and sent Garner back to the dugout when he considered a pitching change in the sixth inning. Abbott dropped down to almost sidearm against left-handed hitters Bobby Abreu and Rico Brogna and retired both.