• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Burrell helps Phillies rout Cardinals again

Jul 15, 2007 - 12:32 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies picked up right where they left off.

Pat Burrell had four RBI and Chase Utley drove in two runs as the Phillies pounded the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, 10-4, on Saturday.

In Friday's series-opening victory, Utley and Jimmy Rollins combined to drive in six runs in helping Philadelphia record season highs of 13 runs and 23 hits.

On Saturday, Burrell finished 3-for-3 en route to collecting four RBI for the second time this season. The 30-year-old left fielder also drove in four runs against the Florida Marlins in a win on April 6.

"That's what I'm here for, to drive guys in," Burrell said. "You do what you can to have your best at-bats when guys are on base."

"(Burrell's) swinging the bat a lot better," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's staying on the ball longer and hitting it to right field more."

With the game tied at 2-2, Philadelphia took the lead for good in the second inning as Utley delivered a two-run double to right field off St. Louis starter Mike Maroth (0-2).

All-Star Aaron Rowand stroked his 12th homer of the season in the third and Burrell added a two-run double during a three-run fifth as the Phillies pushed their lead to 8-4.

Rowand went 4-for-4, falling a triple shy of the cycle.

Burrell completed his impressive display at the plate with a two-run single to right against reliever Randy Flores in the sixth.

The much-maligned Burrell, who received an ovation from the sold-out Citizens Bank Park crowd after being lifted for a pinch runner, is now 9-for-15 since July 4 with nine RBI.

Philadelphia wasted little time getting to Maroth, as Rollins hit a leadoff blast - his 18th - in the first and reigning National League MVP Ryan Howard belted his 22nd homer two batters later.

Phillies starter Cole Hamels (11-4) battled through six innings, picking up his second straight win despite giving up four runs and eight hits with two strikeouts.

"You're not going to have your best stuff every day, so you just have to make the best of it," Hamels said.

The win helped Philadelphia delay its inevitable 10,000th franchise loss for at least one more day. With their next setback, the Phillies will become the first professional sports team to reach the dubious mark.

Maroth was hammered for eight runs and nine hits in five frames to remain winless since coming over from the Detroit Tigers in a trade last month.

"I was terrible," Maroth said. "I didn't make my pitches, that's pretty much it."

All-Star Albert Pujols must have found his power stroke, homering for the second consecutive game for the Cardinals. He hit his first blast since June 14 in Friday's setback.

"We have to pick up the pitching and score some more runs," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said.