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Big first inning leads Phillies over Reds 22-1

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:20 AM By ROB MAADDI AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA(AP) -- Bloopers dropped in, grounders found holes and several balls flew out of the park.

Once the Philadelphia Phillies put their bats down, the Cincinnati Reds had suffered the worst loss in team history.

Chase Utley hit a three-run homer and Shane Victorino and Greg Dobbs each had two-run shots during a 10-run first, leading the Phillies to a 22-1 victory over the Reds on Monday night.

It was the most lopsided defeat for baseball's first professional franchise. The Red Stockings and Redlegs never got beat this badly, and the Big Red Machine used to do all the hitting.

"We got slaughtered as they used to say," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

The previous worst defeat for the Reds was 26-6 on July 26, 1892. That also was against the Phillies.

Cole Hamels (5-5) was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst. The struggling ace allowed one run and three hits in seven innings to earn his first win since shutting out the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 4.

"I was just jumping for joy," Hamels said about the run support. "When you put that many runs up, it makes it uncomfortable for the other team."

The Phillies tied a club record for most runs in the first inning. They scored 10 three other times, most recently on June 2, 2002, against the Montreal Expos.

It was the most runs by Philadelphia since a 26-7 win over the New York Mets at the old Veterans Stadium on June 11, 1985. The 22 runs were the most in the six-year history of Citizens Bank Park.

Reds starter Johnny Cueto (8-5) retired just two batters, allowing nine runs and five hits. It was the shortest outing in the right-hander's two-year career. Cueto had never allowed more than six earned runs in a game, and his ERA rose from 2.69 to 3.45.

Jayson Werth connected off infielder Paul Janish in the eighth. Victorino, a candidate for the final spot on the NL's All-Star roster, helped his case with four hits, four RBIs and a career-high five runs. Dobbs had four hits, Utley drove in four and every starter had a hit.

"It was one of those nights where everything we hit was falling and we hit some hard," manager Charlie Manuel said.

The NL East-leading Phillies have won four straight games after losing 14 of 18. They hadn't scored more than 15 runs since a 20-2 victory at St. Louis last June 13. After that game, the Phillies went 3-11 and scored a total of 38 runs.

Rockies 1, Nationals 0=

At Denver, Jason Marquis pitched eight innings for his major league-leading 11th win and Todd Helton had an RBI double in the first for Colorado.

Fresh off making his first All-Star team, Marquis pitched out of bases-loaded jams in the seventh and eighth innings. Marquis (11-5), who allowed seven hits and struck out three, was coming off a two-hit shutout at Los Angeles on June 30.

Huston Street threw a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 21 chances.

Rookie Craig Stammen (1-4) went a season-high seven innings, giving up five hits and the one run.

Diamondbacks 6, Padres 5=

In Phoenix, Mark Reynolds singled home Justin Upton with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give Arizona the win.

Upton drew a two-out walk from Cla Meredith (4-2) and stole second before Reynolds lined a single into the left-field corner.

Jon Rauch (1-0) pitched the ninth for the Diamondbacks, who have won three straight for the first time since May 20-23.

Tony Gwynn Jr. went 4 for 5 for the visiting Padres, who lost for the fifth time in six games.

Giants 5, Marlins 4=

In San Francisco, Pablo Sandoval hit his first career grand slam to help Matt Cain earn his 10th victory.

Sandoval's 13th homer came off Sean West (3-3) in the fifth inning. Nate Schierholtz added a sacrifice fly as the Giants won for the sixth time in nine games.

Cain (10-2) gave up two runs, one earned, and five hits in 6 2-3 innings to end a three-start winless stretch. Closer Brian Wilson allowed two runs in the ninth but survived for his 22nd save.

The Marlins had won five of six, but couldn't produce enough timely hits as the club kicked off a seven-game trip before the All-Star break.

Cubs 4, Braves 2=

In Chicago, rookie Randy Wells won his fourth straight start and Derrek Lee homered as Chicago won for the sixth time in eight games.

Wells (4-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings, including a homer to Nate McLouth. Kevin Gregg worked the ninth for his 15th save.

Jair Jurrjens (6-7) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings for Atlanta.

Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez returned to the lineup after missing two months with a dislocated left shoulder. He went 0 for 4.

Astros 4, Pirates 1=

In Houston, Mike Hampton pitched seven solid innings and Miguel Tejada and Geoff Blum each drove in two runs for Houston.

Hampton (5-5) allowed one run and three hits to improve to 14-3 with a 2.20 ERA in 20 career starts against Pittsburgh dating to 1995. He has won 10 consecutive starts against the Pirates.

Jose Valverde got three outs for his seventh save.

Virgil Vasquez (1-2) went six innings in his third start of the season for Pittsburgh, allowing four runs and seven hits.