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Utley extends hitting streak to 31 games

Phillies give fond farewell to Abreu, then sweep Marlins

Image: Chase Utley
Chase Utley of the Phillies hits a double in the fourth inning against the Marlins on Sunday to extend his hit streak to 30 games. He also had a hit in the second game to extend the streak to 31.
George Widman / AP
Video: Baseball from NBC Sports
Nats name Riggleman
Jim Riggleman was officially introduced as the manager of the Washington Nationals.

updated 11:30 p.m. ET July 30, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - Bobby Abreu hit the road. Chase Utley hit another milestone.

Now it’s up to Utley and Ryan Howard to try to lead the Phillies where Abreu never could — the postseason.

Utley homered and extended his hitting streak to 31 games, and Howard hit his NL-leading 35th homer to help the Philadelphia Phillies complete a doubleheader sweep over the Florida Marlins 9-2 Sunday night.

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In the opener, Mike Lieberthal hit a grand slam, leading the Phillies to an 11-5 win.

“I think our guys are up,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “They don’t want to lose teammates, but they had a lot of life today.”

With Abreu traded earlier in the day to the New York Yankees, Utley and Howard continued to show they are the future of the franchise.

Utley extended the longest hitting streak in the major leagues this season with a sixth-inning RBI single that chased Marlins starter Brian Moehler (5-8). Utley, who tied the second longest streak in team history, scored on Howard’s two-run homer off Renyel Pinto.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins has the longest streak at 38 games — the final 36 of last season and the first two this year. Ed Delahanty had a 31-game run in 1899.

Utley added a solo shot, his 21st, in the seventh inning for an 8-2 lead. Howard then narrowly missed his second homer of the game, doubling off the 401-foot sign in center field.

Utley doubled and tripled in the first game of the doubleheader.

Ryan Madson (9-7) allowed two runs, struck out six and walked none in six innings. Pat Burrell and Rollins also homered for the Phillies. Burrell added an RBI single in the seventh.

“I guess there’s some kind of plan going on, but right now with all the guys in the clubhouse, that’s what we’ve got, so that’s what we’re going out with,” Howard said.

Josh Willingham hit his 15th homer of the season and third in the doubleheader for the Marlins.

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“It’s a long season and the pressure is new for a lot of our guys,” Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. “I’ve told them September will be the toughest month.”

Rollins’ 12th homer of the year in the sixth tied it at 2. Shane Victorino added a pinch-hit, two-run single, keying a six-run sixth against three Marlins pitchers.

In his first start since July 1 after going on the disabled list with a sprained right foot, Moehler allowed four runs and struck out six in 5 1-3 innings.

The Phillies played both games without Abreu, who watched the first game from the dugout.


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