Phillies’ Slump Is a Distant Memory

A four-game winning streak has helped the Philadelphia Phillies forget the recent past.

After losing five of six games to drop out of first place, the Phillies have taken the first four of a five-game series against Florida, winning, 6-4, Saturday night at Philadelphia to remain alone atop the National League East.

“Everything’s forgotten now,” said Bobby Abreu, who homered and drove in three runs. “Right now, we’re just starting to win some games.”

The Phillies lost two of three last weekend in Florida and were swept at home this week by Atlanta to fall a half-game out of first place. Philadelphia is one game ahead of Atlanta and 5 1/2 games ahead of the Marlins, who have dropped 10 of 12 to the Phillies this season.

“You don’t worry about the past,” said Marlon Anderson, who had a two-run home run. “We’re in first place and we just have to go out and play good baseball.”

Enticed by postgame fireworks, 45,707 attended the game, the Phillies’ biggest home crowd of the season. The five-game series against the Marlins concludes today.

Phillie starter Omar Daal (9-2) struggled but managed to get the victory. In five innings, he gave up four runs, seven hits and two walks. Philadelphia improved to 14-3 in games started by Daal.

Atlanta 5, New York 2--Greg Maddux pitched eight strong innings and Brian Jordan and Mark DeRosa each drove in two runs in the Braves’ victory at Atlanta.

Maddux (9-5) gave up eight hits, two runs (one earned), didn’t walk a batter and struck out six in ending June with a 5-0 record in six starts.

Steve Karsay, who came to the Braves in a trade with Cleveland for John Rocker on June 22, pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save with Atlanta.

San Francisco 5, St. Louis 2--Pinch-hitter Pedro Feliz drove in two runs with an eighth-inning single as the Giants rallied to win in Barry Bonds’ absence at San Francisco.

Bonds, who leads the major leagues with 39 home runs, bruised his right wrist making a catch at the wall Friday, and Manager Dusty Baker gave him the day off.

San Francisco scored four runs in the eighth as the Cardinal bullpen wasted a 2-1 lead and seven strong innings by Matt Morris. St. Louis lost its fourth consecutive, while the Giants won for the 11th time in 17 games.

Arizona 6, Colorado 5--Damian Miller and Craig Counsell hit solo home runs in the eighth inning to give the Diamondbacks a victory at Phoenix.

The wild ending, which featured three lead changes in the seventh and eighth, gave the Diamondbacks their third consecutive victory.

Colorado’s Adam Melhuse hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Troy Brohawn (2-3), who earned the victory by working one inning, giving up two runs and one hit and striking out one.

Cincinnati 7, Chicago 1--Kelly Stinnett hit two home runs and Ken Griffey Jr. added a solo shot as the Reds took advantage of a poor outing by Julian Tavarez to defeat the Cubs at Cincinnati.

A meltdown by the Cub pitching staff set up their sixth loss in nine games, yet they have a 4 1/2-game lead in the NL Central.

Tavarez (6-5) had been one of the hottest starters lately on a pitching staff that has given up the league’s fewest runs. The right-hander had won his last three starts and pitched seven innings in each of his last four.

Houston 7, Milwaukee 4--Rookie right-hander Roy Oswalt pitched six scoreless innings, singled twice and had his first career run batted in as the Astros won at Milwaukee.

Oswalt (6-1) gave up four hits and improved to 4-0 in five starts since moving into the Astro rotation June 2.

Montreal 7, Pittsburgh 6--Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run double in the ninth inning as the Expos rallied for a victory over the Pirates at Montreal.