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Utley, Burrell homer as Phillies sink Reds

Apr 5, 2008 - 5:43 AM By Douglas Tifft PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- After managing just one hit in his previous seven at-bats, Chase Utley has come alive.

The second baseman belted two home runs to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

It was the 14th multi-home run game of Utley's career and brought him to 100 home runs in his career.

Utley downplayed the significance of the milestone.

"To me it's just another home run," he said.

Utley's offense came in support of righthander Kyle Kendrick (1-0) who went five-plus innings, giving up four runs on eight hits for the Phillies.

"I left the ball up a little bit, got behind in some counts," Kendrick said. "I just tried to be a power pitcher and that is not my game."

Kendrick came out for the sixth, but was relieved by Ryan Madson after walking Edwin Encarnacion. Madson worked two scoreless innings and righthander Rudy Seanez and lefthander J.C. Romero finished up with a scoreless inning apiece.

Righthander Josh Fogg (0-1) took the loss for the Reds, working four innings and giving up six runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out three.

Pat Burrell also had a strong day at the plate for the Phillies, punctuating a three-run first inning with a two-run home run to the upper deck in left field.

Utley's 365-foot homer to left in the third gave the Phillies a 5-1 lead. Two innings later, Utley added his second shot, a 338-foot fly ball down the left field line.

"Utley did some good hitting tonight," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "On the second home run he reacted to the breaking ball well and stayed on it."