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Marcum sharp as Blue Jays pound Phillies

May 20, 2007 - 4:27 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Shaun Marcum got pulled out of a no-hitter in his last start. Through four innings Saturday, he was bidding for a second.

Marcum pitched six strong innings to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 13-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 25-year-old Marcum was forced into starting duty due to the injuries to Roy Halladay, Victor Zambrano and Gustavo Chacin. In his first start last Sunday Marcum pitched six hitless innings before being removed against Tampa Bay.

The former reliever followed up that effort with four innings of no-hit work to open the game against the Phillies. Chase Utley broke up the bid with a homer leading off the fifth, ending Marcum's no-hit innings streak at 10.

"I wasn't even paying attention (to the innings streak)," Marcum said. "I was more worried about trying to get a hit during my (first major league) at-bat and not getting my thumbs broken."

"Marcum was outstanding," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "We put him (in the starting rotation) a week ago. He's going to stay there."

Marcum lasted six innings, yielding two runs and four hits while striking out six to earn his first win of the season as a starter.

"I tried to keep them off-balance," Marcum said. "I think I did a decent job of getting ahead in counts.

"It's a little different mindset to start, but it's something that I like to do."

Toronto jumped out to a big lead against Philadelphia starter Jamie Moyer, pounding the veteran lefthander for seven runs and eight hits over just 3 1/3 innings. It was Moyer's shortest outing of the season.

"Every inning, I was in trouble," Moyer said. "It's not an easy way to pitch. I just wasn't consistent."

He had lasted at least six frames in each of his eight starts this season and 15 out of 16 since joining the Phillies for the stretch run last season.

"Jamie had a tough night tonight," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I felt like he threw some close pitches in the beginning, then started getting the ball up and they started hitting him."

Lyle Overbay did much of the damage for the Blue Jays. Toronto's No. 2 hitter opened the scoring in the third by sending a triple to the wall in center field, plating Alex Rios.

Vernon Wells chased Overbay home with a an RBI single and Troy Glaus knocked Wells home with a two-run blast over the wall in left.

Overbay chased Moyer in the fourth when he blasted a three-run homer over the wall in deep right to push the score to 7-0.

"Hopefully, this is a breakout," Overbay said. "It's only a matter of time. We have too many good hitters, too many weapons. We have to continue to be consistent."

Marcum felt more secure pitching with a seven-run lead.

"It's nice to have that comfort," Marcum said. "It gives a little more room for error. They can't hit a six-run home run to tie the game."

Wells added a pair of RBI in the eighth, plating Rios and rookie Ryan Roberts with a single off Philadelphia reliever Clay Condrey. Wells' three RBI snaps a string of 15 straight games without an RBI for the Blue Jays' slugger.

Toronto had no trouble with Condrey. After Wells' single, Glaus flied out to center and Aaron Hill walked, loading the bases for reserve outfielder Matt Stairs. The veteran utility man took Condrey's 2-2 offering deep over the wall in right field for a grand slam.

"It's a nice way to get four quick runs for your team," Stairs said. "I've never been the type of guy to worry about the numbers. It's about getting a win first."

Abraham Nunez drove in the Phillies' second run in the fifth, plating Greg Dobbs with a single to center.