Philadelphia Phillies Chase Utley slides safely into home plate as the New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada waits for the throw during the fourth inning of their MLB interleague baseball game in Philadelphia June 19, 2006.
(REUTERS/Tim Shaffer)
Yankees fall further behind with Phillies loss
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pat Burrell had a two-run double and Brett Myers pitched a solid 6 2/3 innings as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Yankees 4-2 in interleague play Monday night in Philadelphia.
Burrell's effort in the fourth inning erased a 1-0 New York lead and gave the Phillies a lead they would not relinquish, moving them back to the .500 mark and to within 8 games of the first-placed New York Mets in the NL East.
It was Philadelphia's second straight win following a six-game losing streak.
"Anytime you play the Yankees it's fun to beat them," Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins told reporters.
"We need to start making up some ground on New York and beating the other New York team is a good way to start."
Myers (5-3) out-dueled New York starter Randy Johnson to pick up the victory, going 6 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts and six walks.
Three relievers finished the game for the Phillies to complete the seven-hitter, including closer and former Yankee Tom Gordon, who pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save.
The Phillies had just five hits, including two by Shane Victorino, who also scored a pair of runs.
Aaron Rowand also had two hits for the winners, including an RBI double in the sixth inning that put the Phillies in front 3-1.
SLUGGISH START
Johnson (8-6) turned in another solid performance as he continues to rebound from a sluggish start to the season.
The Big Unit went seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Kyle Farnsworth finished up for New York and allowed another run in the eighth as the Yankees lost their third straight game and eighth of 11 to slip two games behind the first-placed Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
"We have to be as tight as we can be with pitching and defense because we're scuffling," New York manager Joe Torre told reporters.
Jason Giambi hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to give the Yankees the early lead, and had three of New York's seven hits in the game.
In Boston, emergency starter Kyle Snyder pitched five solid innings as the Red Sox downed the Washington Nationals 6-3.
Snyder (1-0) allowed three runs on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks to get the win before four relievers finished the seven-hitter.
Mike Timlin got the last three outs and recorded his first save of the season for Boston.
Manny Ramirez hit his 18th home run of the season and 453rd of his career, tying him for 28th on the all-time list.
Coco Crisp, Gabe Kapler and Ramirez all had two hits and drove in a run for the Red Sox.
Tony Armas (6-4) allowed four runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings and took the loss. He walked two and struck out none.
Jose Vidro and Jose Guillen both homered for the Nationals.
(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto)
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