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Lieber strikes out 11 in complete game

Jun 10, 2007 - 4:08 AM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies got a strong outing from their starting pitcher to post their first victory in Kansas City since the 1980 World Series.

Jon Lieber allowed just two runners past first base and Greg Dobbs drove in a pair of runs as the Phillies won for the sixth time in their last eight games, 4-0, over the Royals on Saturday.

Lieber (3-4) tossed his first shutout since August 16 against the New York Mets, fanning a season-high 11 batters, including six straight in the first two innings and did not walk a batter for the fourth time in 10 starts.

"The guys did great behind me," Lieber said. "(Catcher) Rod (Barajas) called a great game. For the most part location was a big factor. I felt like my breaking ball was much better than the last time out."

"He was great," Barajas said. "His location was great and he never had a hiccup. He could throw his slider in any count, any location. When they are swinging at the first pitch he can take advantage of that and work against them."

After allowing leadoff hitter David DeJesus to reach on a single in the opening frame, Lieber then struck out the next six Kansas City batters. The 37-year-old righthander, who had allowed a combined 10 earned runs over his last two starts, threw 78 of 106 pitches for strikes and went to a three-ball count on just three hitters.

"His command was good and he really concentrated on pitching to those young hitters," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "They were aggressive, swinging at his slider down. He got in a streak, where he struck out six in a row. They were aggressive and I think that might have helped him."

"I didn't feel they were that aggressive," Lieber said. "They were taking a lot of strikes throughout the game. It didn't seem like they started to swing until the fifth or sixth inning on. I was able to get some calls and the guys played great on me."

Only seven Royals' hitters hit the ball out of the infield against Lieber, and he retired the final 15 batters he faced.

"In the fifth inning he threw three pitches over the middle of the plate and (John) Buck's double was the only one that got hit," Barajas said. "I went out to talk to him because he was falling off the mound to one side. He knew he had to make an adjustment. He did and he just cruised the rest of the night."

"He's what I call a rhythm pitcher," Manuel said. "All of a sudden, he's capable of running off some streaks where he wins five or six in a row. That's kind of how he pitches. Tonight, he didn't have to hit or run to get on base and stuff. When it's hot, I think that takes something out of him."

Dobbs drove in two runs as Phillies banged out eight hits in the first four innings against Kansas City starter Gil Meche (3-6). Dobbs had two hits - including a homer - on Friday in the Phillies' series-opening loss.

"I think we took advantage early of getting guys in scoring position," Dobbs said. "When the pitchers are throwing like that you really have to take advantage of any situation like that."

"Dobbs had really good at-bats and so did Barajas," Manuel said.

After Aaron Rowand singled to lead off the second inning and Pat Burrell walked, Dobbs singled through the right side of the infield to score Rowand with Philadelphia's first run.

Burrell, Dobbs and Rod Barajas each contributed RBI doubles in the fourth inning as the Phillies built a 4-0 lead.

Meche fanned a season-high eight in seven innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, all in the first four innings, while walking one. The eight strikeouts were a season best for all Royals pitchers.

"I threw a lot more fastballs today," Meche said. "My arm felt a lot better so I kind of stuck with everything. I threw everything, I mixed up the whole time. Overall, I felt good and felt I had tremendous stuff. I just got beat.

Meche, who signed a five-year, $55 million free agent deal in the offseason, has not picked up a win since May 3 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - a span of seven starts during which the Royals have scored just 13 runs.