Pirates Get Swept Away by Phillies

Randy Wolf and Omar Daal pitched the Philadelphia Phillies to their first doubleheader sweep in nearly three years.

The Phillies, the surprising NL East leaders, got outstanding outings from their starters and solid relief work to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-0 and 5-2, Wednesday night at Philadelphia.

“We’re getting clutch hitting and good pitching. That’s what good teams do,” said Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins, who had three hits and a two-run homer in the opener and went five for nine overall.

Philadelphia has won five of six and Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 15. The Phillies’ previous sweep was against Florida on July 24, 1998. Pittsburgh hadn’t lost a doubleheader since July 30, 1996 against the New York Mets.

In the opener, Randy Wolf gave up two hits in 7 1/3 innings and the Phillies scored three runs in the first inning.

Omar Daal, 4-19 last season, then became the first Phillie pitcher to open 6-0 since Mike Grace in 1996. Backed by two runs batted in each from Scott Rolen and Travis Lee, Daal gave up two runs and nine hits in seven-plus innings.

“Every time out there I feel better and better with my control and my location,” said Daal, who did not walk a batter.

Pittsburgh got its first run in the doubleheader on Keith Osik’s homer leading off the seventh, ending Daal’s 14-inning scoreless streak.

Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances.

In the opener, Wolf (4-4) struck out 10 to equal his season high and won his third consecutive decision. It is his third double-digit strikeout performance in his last four starts and fifth of his career.

“I was just being aggressive,” Wolf said. “Strikeouts are fluky, I’m not a strikeout guy. But when you get ahead of the hitters, it opens up so many things I want to do.”

Ricky Bottalico recorded his second save in the combined three-hitter by going 1 2/3 innings.

Pirate starter Jason Schmidt (1-2) went five innings in his fourth start since returning from shoulder surgery, giving up four runs, nine hits and five walks while striking out seven.

San Diego 7, Houston 6--Mark Kotsay went four for five and hit an RBI single with two out in the ninth inning at Houston to lead the Padres to their fifth consecutive victory.

Kotsay, who homered earlier, helped San Diego complete a three-game sweep. San Diego is 6-0 at Enron Field since its opening last season. His go-ahead hit came off Billy Wagner (3-2).

Before Kotsay’s big hit in the ninth, pinch-runner Adam Riggs was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Ben Davis’ double.

Jay Witasick (3-2) pitched the eighth for the victory. Trevor Hoffman earned his ninth save.

Ryan Klesko went two for five to complete the series seven for 11 with four home runs, a triple, two doubles and 11 RBIs. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is batting .463 (19 for 41) during the streak.

Chicago 4, Cincinnati 2--Ron Coomer and Matt Stairs hit run-scoring singles, and Cub relievers gave up only three hits after two rain delays in a victory at Chicago.

Todd Van Poppel (2-1) earned the victory. Rob Bell (0-3) took the loss. Sammy Sosa missed his second consecutive game because of lower-back tightness.

New York 4, Montreal 2--Tsuyoshi Shinjo hit a two-run homer and Al Leiter won his second consecutive start since coming off the disabled list to lead the Mets at Montreal.

Shinjo, who also had the game-winning hits in the Mets’ previous two victories, homered in the sixth off Chris Peters (2-4) to put New York ahead, 3-2.

Leiter (2-3), coming off a strained left elbow, gave up six hits and two runs in winning his second in a row after losing his first three decisions before going on the disabled list.

Milwaukee 7, St. Louis 3--Jeromy Burnitz hit a two-run homer and Jose Hernandez had a three-run double as the Brewers won at Milwaukee.

Paul Rigdon (3-1) won for the first time in six starts since April 21.

Matt Morris (6-3), bidding to become the National League’s second seven-game winner, gave up four runs, seven hits and five walks in five innings.

St. Louis Manager Tony La Russa was ejected in the ninth for arguing a called strike on Jim Edmonds.

Atlanta at Florida, ppd., rain--The game was rescheduled for Sept. 27.