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Ruiz steals the show as Phils pound Reds

Jun 27, 2007 - 4:12 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies exploded for 11 runs while pounding out 16 hits, but it was Carlos Ruiz who stole the show - literally.

The rookie became the first Phillies catcher to steal home in a quarter-century while also delivering three hits and a career-high four RBI to lift the Phillies to a 11-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

Kyle Kendrick (2-0), making his third start for the Phillies after being called up from Class AA Reading, won the battle of rookie hurlers. Kendrick, who allowed the game's first three batters to reach base via a walk and two singles before settling down, allowed four runs on six hits over six-plus innings.

"Bases loaded, nobody out and he ended up giving up only run one, that was really big," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He took us to a good spot in the game, that is the third time he did it which is good."

"Give credit to our offense they scored a lot of runs tonight and we battled and came up with a big win," Kendrick said.

After three strong starts Kendrick is making a strong case for securing a spot in a Phillies rotation that has been depleted of late by the injuries to Jon Lieber and Freddy Garcia.

"I would love to be (in the rotation permanently), but I can not think like that," Kendrick said. "One day at a time, one start at a time. Just take it day by day."

Fellow rookie hurler Homer Bailey (2-1) was not as fortunate. Making just his fourth start for the Reds, Bailey allowed six hits and six earned runs over 1 2/3 innings in suffering his first loss of the season.

"One of those days every player has had," Bailey said. "You're gonna have good ones just as much as you're gonna have bad ones. You try to learn from it and move on."

"There's going to be ups and downs of any rookie and tonight he just didn't have it," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "Tried to get him through the second inning there and just wasn't able to do it. It's all gonna be a learning experience for him. (He) just needs to come out, throw some strikes and locate the ball better than he did tonight."

Trailing 1-0 following a sacrifice fly in the first inning by Adam Dunn, the Phillies scored seven consecutive runs over the next three innings.

Ryan Howard connected on his 17th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first that plated Jimmy Rollins, to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. Shane Victorino, Greg Dobbs and Ruiz led off the second with three straight singles with Ruiz's scoring Victorino.

Kendrick walked to load the bases with Rollins grounding into a double play that plated Dobbs. Michael Bourn walked to put runners at first and third. The speedy left fielder then initiated a double-steal, swiping second with Ruiz breaking on the throw and taking home.

It was the first time a Phillies catcher had stolen home since Bo Diaz accomplished the feat in 1982.

"Smitty (3B coach Steve Smith) said he told Chooch (Ruiz) to make sure the ball went through and that was all he said to him, then he looked up and saw Chooch took off and he hollared 'no, no' but Chooch made it," Manuel said on the double steal.

"I read the catcher very good,"Ruiz said of the steal.

Chase Utley, who hit a solo homer in the seventh, then drove in Bourn with a RBI single to make it 6-1. Victorino, who scored three runs, extended the lead to 7-1 with a solo homer off of reliever Mike Gosling in the third.

Josh Hamilton opened the fourth inning with a solo home run, his 12th of the season, to cut the lead to 7-2.

The Phillies, however, answered with three more in the bottom half of the inning with the big blow being a three-run double off the bat of Ruiz.

"(Ruiz) has a lot of power for a little guy," Manuel said. "Tonight he showed a real quick bat and tonight his hitting helped us win the game."

The Reds scored two more in the fifth. Scott Hatteberg opened the frame with a double to right-center. After moving to third on a groundout, he scored on a sacrifice fly by Ken Griffey, Jr. Dunn then connected on his 21st home run of the season.

After a lead-off walk to pinch-hitter Norris Hopper, Kendrick was relieved by Mike Zagurski. Zagurski tossed two scoreless innings before giving way to Geoff Geary, who pitched a perfect ninth.