Burrell drives in five as Phillies roll

PHILADELPHIA -- Pounding opposing pitchers, even good ones like the Dodgers have thrown the past two games, has been a Phillies' offensive staple, just not for the past two months.

But as manager Charlie Manuel has maintained, for as good as the pitching has been, especially ace Cole Hamels and 45-year-old Jamie Moyer, the Phillies must hit or they won't be in the playoffs.

"As long as we come out of it at the right time, I won't worry about it," Ryan Howard said. "As long as we're all hot at the right time, I'll gladly take it."
Howard, who hit a two-run double, was able to smile after a second straight offensive outburst, this time a 9-2 win over Los Angeles on Saturday in front of a sellout Citizens Bank Park crowd. With their victory and the Mets' loss to the Astros, the Phils are 1 1/2 games back in the National League East.

As has been a part of the Mount Rushmore of a cold offense, Ryan Howard brought a .164 August average into the series. He, Pat Burrell (.167), Jimmy Rollins (.211) and Chase Utley (.243) hit a combined .198 in the month.

The Phillies hitters know they're better.

So there they were, peppering Greg Maddux on Friday and phenom rookie Clayton Kershaw on Saturday, starters who entered their outings with ERAs below 4.00. The Phillies combined for 17 runs in the two games, their highest total since they blasted Atlanta for 22 runs on July 26-27.

There was Burrell rounding the bases after a three-run, first-inning homer. His 30th of the season gave the Phillies a trio of players with 30 or more homers (with Howard and Utley) for the third time in franchise history. Burrell, Howard and Rollins turned the trick last season and Chuck Klein, Lefty O'Doul and Don Hurst did it in 1929.

Burrell plated another run on a double in the fifth, thanks to Matt Kemp losing Burrell's fly ball in the sun. Kemp raced in on it, then held up his hands and watched as the ball dropped 15 feet behind him.

"I knew he was in trouble as soon as he put his hands up," said center fielder Shane Victorino. "I was trying to jump and tell the guys to go, because I could see he was in trouble. He was still coming in. That's got to be one of the worst feelings. You feel like you're helpless."
Philadelphia capitalized when Howard laced a two-run double to knock Kershaw out of the game, giving Mount Rushmore a combined .323 (10-for-31) average in two games.

"For the four of us to go into a lull?" Howard said. "That's just the game. As far as coming out of it, the last two games, we'll just see if we can try and build on the momentum. I've seen a lot of weird things that take place in this game."

(phillies.com)