Streaking Phils maul Marlins

Sep 1, 2007, 2:30 GMT

Miami, FL - Chase Utley went 2-for-3 with three RBI, as the Philadelphia Phillies remained hot with a 9-2 win over the Florida Marlins in the start of a three-game series at Dolphin Stadium.

Pat Burrell knocked in a pair of runs while Jimmy Rollins scored twice and drove in one for the Phillies, who are coming off a big four-game sweep of the Mets and have won six in a row overall. They remain two games behind New York after the Mets beat Atlanta on Friday.

Rookie Kyle Kendrick (8-3) tossed seven strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

Sergio Mitre (5-8), meanwhile, yielded six runs over just 3 1/3 frames for Florida, which has dropped 14 of 16. Miguel Cabrera had an RBI in defeat.

Philadelphia opened up the scoring in the first on an RBI groundout by Burrell, and put up four more in the second to gain full command.

With runners on first and third and one out, Carlos Ruiz slapped a base hit to right that plated Aaron Rowand for the first run of the second frame. Kendrick was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Rollins cashed in with a run- scoring single. Mitre's control problems continued, as he hit Utley in the next sequence to push a run home. Burrell stepped in next and capped the surge with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.

Jayson Werth added an RBI single in the third to up the advantage to six runs.

Back-to-back doubles from Dan Uggla and Cabrera to start the fourth put Florida on the board, and a wild pitch by Kendrick in the sixth allowed Hanley Ramirez to score to move the Marlins within four.

The Phillies went up 7-2 in the seventh, though, when Miguel Olivo committed a throwing error while trying to catch Utley stealing second, allowing Rollins to score.

Utley finished the scoring with a two-run single in the eighth.

Kane Davis, called up from Triple-A Ottawa by the Phillies before the game, pitched the final two innings to seal the win.

Game Notes

Phillies All-Star left-hander Cole Hamels experienced discomfort in his throwing elbow on Friday and will miss his next scheduled start on Sunday...The Phils shipped infielder/outfielder Russell Branyan to St. Louis on Friday in exchange for a player-to-be-named later...Kendrick has won three straight starts...Mitre hasn't won since July 29, and has allowed 23 runs over his last four starts...Marlins left fielder Josh Willingham left in the third inning with a stiff lower back.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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