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Phillies stay hot with rout of Marlins

Sep 1, 2007 - 4:44 AM By Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) - The Philadelphia Phillies continued their push for the National League East Division title with a 9-2 victory over the Florida Marlins on Friday.

The Phillies scored four runs in the second inning - aided by three singles and three batters getting hit by a pitch - en route to their sixth straight win. Philadelphia (72-62) stayed within two games of the New York Mets for the division lead.

"We'll celebrate this win for a half an hour, then go back to the hotel and concentrate on tomorrow's game," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

Jimmy Rollins led the Phillies attack with three hits. He led off the game with a double and came around to score on a groundout by Pat Burrell to make it 1-0.

"I have been able to start things off as a lead-off hitter and be able to score a run in the first inning, which is real big," Rollins said. "It gives our pitcher something to work with and they have to play catch-up from that point on."

It was Rollins sixth straight multi-hit game. He is batting .519 (14-for-27) during that stretch.

"Some days I see the ball good, but it is nothing special," Rollins said. "I am just finding holes. I will get one clean hit and other than that I have been finding some holes."

The Phillies also got a three-hit game from Jason Werth, who batted .414 (36-for-87) in August. He was batting .235 coming into the month.

Burrell drove in two runs, giving him 46 RBI in his last 49 games.

In the third inning, Marlins starter Sergio Mitre hit three batters including Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick in the right shoulder when Kendrick squared to bunt and it appeared to sting the 23-year old rookie.

"I reacted the way I did because it scared me," Kendrick said. "I had never been hit in the arm and it was just like a charley horse and my arm was a little numb."

Kendrick (8-3) stayed in the game and tossed seven strong innings, giving up two runs and six hits. He struck out four and yielded one walk.

"His ball always moves, his ball is not not straight," Manuel said. "He either sinks the ball or cuts it or throws a four-seamer that takes off. And every now and again, he reach reach up and get 91-92. He's a pitcher, he doesn't strike a whole lot of guys out. He knows how to pitch. He has a tremendously feel for pitching and doesn't give in."

Marlins leftfielder Josh Willingham left the game in the third inning with a stiff lower back. He is listed as day-to-day.

Mitre (5-8) gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. He has a 10.35 ERA in his last four starts and has not won since July 29, a span of six starts.

"I'm not getting the job done," Mitre said. "Constantly falling behind guys, not being consistent at all. It's just all over the place. Obviously I'm not doing what I was doing in the first half (of the season). It's showing. Obviously when you're not being consistent you get hit around, like I have."

The Marlins lost their 14th game in their last 16.