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Burrell, Utley lead Phillies past Brewers

Apr 24, 2008 - 9:21 PM By David Cotey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Pat Burrell, the National League's leading run producer, continued to clear the bases.

Burrell's two-run double in the top of the eighth inning Thursday afternoon led the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Burrell leads the NL with 25 RBI, including eight in his last four contests, and helped the Phillies split the short two-game series with Milwaukee.

"The goal is to go up there in situations like that and have good at-bats," Burrell said. "That's the name of the game - getting hits with guys on base."

David Riske (0-1), pitching in relief of Brewers starter Jeff Suppan, struck out the first two batters of the eighth before walking Greg Dobbs and giving up a single to Chase Utley.

Burrell followed with his clutch hit into the left field corner.

"Burrell got a big knock," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's swinging good, man."

Riske, who was signed to a free-agent contract in the offseason to help solidify the Brewers' bullpen but has an ERA of 7.36, had two strikes on Burrell.

"It was poor pitches," Riske said. "You can do that on an 0-2 pitch. Suppan pitched great, the team played great and I blew it. You can't make those pitches in that situation. It was unacceptable."

Phillies starter Jamie Moyer allowed eight hits with three walks and pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in five starts this season. He was removed, however, before recording an out in the inning.

Bill Hall led off the seventh with a double and J.J. Hardy singled before Moyer was lifted for reliever Tom Gordon (1-2), who worked around a walk to retire the side.

After J.C. Romero and Ryan Madson worked a scoreless eighth inning for the Phillies, Brad Lidge allowed a hit in the ninth but recorded his fifth save.

"We're pretty talented in the back of our bullpen," Moyer said. "It's a nice luxury to have because it can shorten the game for the starters."

Suppan allowed just five hits, including a solo home run to Jayson Werth, in seven innings. He walked three and struck out three, receiving his fourth consecutive no-decision.

"(Suppan) was great, and he had more left in him," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "There were two crafty pitchers on the mound, changing speeds and hitting spots, keeping hitters off-balanced."

Milwaukee's Ryan Braun snapped a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third with an RBI single that plated Rickie Weeks from second base.

Phillies slugger Ryan Howard struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and again in the ninth, dropping his batting average to just .176. Manuel said Howard will get Friday off.