Phillies Make Up More Ground In NL East

The Philadelphia Phillies thought Marlon Anderson was out of line. So did second base umpire CB Bucknor. <br/><br/>The New York Mets' outfielder slid hard into second in the ninth inning Wednesday

Thursday, August 30th 2007, 7:44 am

By: News On 6

The Philadelphia Phillies thought Marlon Anderson was out of line. So did second base umpire CB Bucknor.

The New York Mets' outfielder slid hard into second in the ninth inning Wednesday night, trying to break up a double play and allow the tying run to score. Instead, he knocked down Phillies second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and Bucknor ruled interference, giving Philadelphia a 3-2 victory over the division leaders.

``I know it shouldn't have been a double play, but at the same time we have to abide by the rule of the umpire,'' said Anderson, who ripped off his helmet and joined manager Willie Randolph in a futile protest.

``I'm just glad the umpire made the call and took care of it,'' Iguchi said through an interpreter. ``I think we were fortunate he was right on the play.''

Crew chief Joe West spoke on Bucknor's behalf.

``Marlon Anderson went after the second baseman to break up the double play and did not, and could not reach the base, which is what he argued,'' he told a pool reporter. ``He went out of his way to interfere with the play that created the interference. CB made a great call, made a gutsy call and he didn't back down from the call at all.''

Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell homered, and Brett Myers survived the wild ninth to help the Phillies win their third straight game against New York and close within three games of the NL East leaders.

``There's no doubt that the slide was hard, but he slid into the base and he was able to touch the base with his foot,'' Randolph argued. ``That's unfortunate to end a game like that.''

In other NL games, it was Milwaukee 6, Chicago 1; Houston 7, St. Louis 0; San Diego 3, Arizona 1; Los Angeles 10, Washington 9 in 12 innings; Atlanta 7, Florida 4; Colorado 8, San Francisco 0; and Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 0.

Jamie Moyer (12-10) rebounded nicely from two straight abysmal starts and gave up eight hits, two runs and stuck out four. J.C. Romero and Tom Gordon each worked a scoreless inning for the Phillies, who go for a series sweep on Thursday.

``The experience we've gotten the last two years has really shown up,'' manager Charlie Manuel said.

Oliver Perez (12-9) gave up five hits, three runs and walked five in six innings, snapping a three-start winning streak as the Mets lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Perez escaped trouble after loading the bases with none out in the fifth. Burrell just missed a grand slam, with the ball landing inches foul of the left-field pole. He wound up with a sacrifice fly for a 3-2 lead.

David Wright sent a full-count pitch into the bushes beyond the center-field wall for his 24th homer in the first, but the Phillies quickly gave Moyer some run support.

Rollins hit his seventh leadoff homer of the season to left and Burrell followed two batters later with his 22nd for a 2-1 lead.

Carlos Beltran doubled in the fourth, advanced to third on a grounder and scored on Carlos Delgado's RBI single to left, tying the game at 2.

Brewers 6, Cubs 1

At Chicago, Ben Sheets (11-4) came off the disabled list to work six strong innings, and Ryan Braun hit a bases-loaded double during a four-run seventh inning as the Brewers moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Cubs in the NL Central.

Carlos Zambrano (14-11) gave up nine hits and six runs _ five earned. He is winless since signing a five-year, $91.5 million contract on Aug. 17 and hasn't won since July 29.

Astros 7, Cardinals 0

At Houston, Roy Oswalt (14-6) allowed four hits and struck out nine in seven dominant innings as the Astros gave Cecil Cooper his first win since replacing Phil Garner as manager on Monday.

The Cardinals, who remained two games back in the NL Central, lost for the third time in nine games.

Kip Wells (6-15) lost his second straight decision and gave up two homers for the second time in three starts. He allowed five runs and nine hits with two strikeouts in six innings.

Padres 3, Diamondbacks 1

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ Brian Giles homered in the third and scored the go-ahead run on Mike Cameron's double in the eighth, backing a strong outing by Greg Maddux and pushing the Padres a percentage point ahead of the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Kevin Cameron (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth to earn the win, and Heath Bell worked the ninth for his second save in six chances. Doug Slaton (3-2) took the loss.

Dodgers 10, Nationals 9, 12th inning

At Los Angeles, Shea Hillenbrand hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and a sacrifice fly off Saul Rivera (4-5) in the 12th as Los Angeles rallied from a five-run deficit to finish a three-game sweep.

Scott Proctor (3-0) pitched three innings of one-hit relief to earn the win.

Braves 7, Marlins 4

At Miami, Matt Diaz homered twice and Atlanta beat Dontrelle Willis (8-14) to salvage a win at the end of a disappointing trip leading up to a series against the NL East-leading Mets.

Buddy Carlyle (8-5), who had lost his past three starts, gave up both homers but departed after five innings with a 7-3 lead.

Rockies 8, Giants 0

At San Francisco, Jeff Francis (14-6) pitched a six-hitter for his second career shutout, Garrett Atkins homered twice and Colorado avoided a three-game sweep.

Noah Lowry (14-8) lost for the first time since July 15, allowing seven runs and seven hits in three innings.

Reds 8, Pirates 0

At Pittsburgh, Aaron Harang (14-3) threw a two-hitter for his fourth career shutout and Ken Griffey, Jr. and Brandon Phillips homered for Cincinnati.

Ian Snell (8-11) gave up seven runs and 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings, and has lost six of his last seven decisions.