Happy returns: Utley goes deep as Phils pound Mets

Aug 28, 2007, 2:31 GMT

Philadelphia, PA - Chase Utley returned from a 28-game layoff due to a broken bone in his right hand and went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI to lead the Phillies over the Mets, 9-2, in the opener of a key four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Pat Burrell added a two-run homer, finishing 2-for-4, and Jayson Werth continued his hot hitting by going 4-for-4 with an RBI for the Phillies, who pounded out 18 hits to draw within five games of the NL East-leading Mets. Werth has a hit in his last nine at-bats.

Jimmy Rollins ended with two hits and two runs scored, and Greg Dobbs had a pair of hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Philadelphia, which remains three games behind the wild card-leading Padres. San Diego beat NL West- leading Arizona Monday night, 3-1.

Phillies starting pitcher J.D. Durbin (6-3) got the win, his fifth in six starts. The right-hander allowed two runs on six hits, striking out six without a walk, over 6 1/3 frames.

Utley was out since July 26 when he was hit by a pitch on his hand by Washington Nationals hurler John Lannan. Utley, a two-time All-Star, had a brief three-game rehab stint and went 1-for-10 at Double-A Reading.

New York also had a key starter come off the DL and produce in his first game back. Paul Lo Duca, who was out since August 12 with a right hamstring injury, went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Carlos Beltran ended 1-for-4 for New York, which also lost a game in the division to the Braves. Atlanta beat Florida, 13-2, on Monday night to draw within six games.

New York starter Brian Lawrence (1-2) suffered the loss, his second straight. The right-hander allowed five runs on 10 hits, striking out one and walking one, in 4 2/3 frames.

The Phillies started the scoring in the second inning. Dobbs singled with one out and scored when Werth hit his first double of the contest.

Burrell then extended the lead to 3-0 with his two-run homer in the third.

New York got two runs back in the fifth. Beltran started the frame by breaking up Durbin's perfect night with a double. After Moises Alou grounded to move Beltran to third and Carlos Delgado struck out, Lo Duca fisted an offering from Durbin to center to plate Beltran. Shawn Green then singled to put runners on the corners and Lawrence helped his cause by hitting a liner to third that Dobbs deflected, but couldn't handle, allowing Lo Duca to score.

Philadelphia got those two runs back in the bottom of the inning while also forcing Lawrence from the contest. Utley cracked a solo homer with one out. Later, Dobbs singled home Ryan Howard, who earlier doubled, and Lawrence was lifted in favor of Jorge Sosa.

Sosa walked Werth to load the bases, but struck out Chris Coste to end the inning. However, he wasn't as fortunate in the next inning.

After Rollins singled with one out, Utley doubled him home for a 6-2 lead.

Tadahito Iguchi highlighted a three-run seventh with a two-run pinch-hit homer. Earlier in the frame, Coste doubled home Werth.

Iguchi had been filling in for Utley at second, but was moved to the bench instead of finding another position for him despite his .307 batting average since joining the Phillies.

Game Notes

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was ejected in the bottom of the first inning by first base umpire Joe West after Rollins was called out on a play at first he looked to be safe on...Burrell has 21 HRs and Utley has 18 this season...Iguchi hit his third HR with the Phillies and ninth overall for the campaign.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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