Sep 30, 2004 3 min read

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Chase Utley had three hits and two RBIs, and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied with a six-run seventh inning to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with an 8-3 victory Wednesday night. In the opener, Todd Pratt hit a three-run homer and the Phillies beat the Pirates 8-4 to clinch consecutive winning seasons for the first time in 21 years.

Philadelphia’s Bobby Abreu reached base in nine of his 10 plate appearances – eight straight before flying out in the fifth. He had four hits, four walks and reached on an error.

The Phillies trailed 3-1 in the seventh inning of the nightcap before scoring five unearned runs against reliever Salomon Torres (7-7).

After the Phillies tied the game 3-all on shortstop Jack Wilson’s one-out throwing error, Torres walked Jason Michaels to load the bases with two outs. Then Utley poked a two-run, opposite-field double to left for a 5-3 lead.

Mike Lieberthal then chased Torres with a two-RBI double.

That made a winner of Brett Myers (10-11), who was pinch-hit for in the seventh after giving up six hits and three runs in his longest outing since Sept. 5. Felix Rodriguez tossed a scoreless eighth and Billy Wagner finished with a scoreless ninth.

The Pirates wasted a solid effort by starter Ryan Vogelsong, who allowed only a run and four hits in five innings after failing to record an out in his previous start.

Pittsburgh staked him to a 3-0 lead in the third on Jason Bay’s 26th homer, bolstering his rookie of the year bid.

Wilson had two hits in the doubleheader, leaving him one shy of 200 this year.

The Phillies (83-75) – 86-76 a year ago – are assured of consecutive winnings seasons for the first time since 1982-83. In 1983, the Phillies reached the World Series and expectations were that high coming into this season with a $93 million payroll that included a new All-Star closer, a revamped bullpen and a promising starting rotation.

Ian Snell (0-1) gave up 11 hits, five walks and eight earned runs in five innings in his first major league start. He was the 11th different pitcher to start this year for Pittsburgh.

NOTES: The game was a makeup of Tuesday night’s rainout. It was the first twi-night doubleheader in the first season at Citizens Bank Park. … Pittsburgh’s Rob Mackowiak grounded into only his second double play of the season in the opener, then lined into one in the nightcap. … The Phillies improved to 39-38 at home. … Phillies 1B Jim Thome missed both games, still suffering from discomfort in his chest resulting from a collision on Sept. 15. Bowa said Thome had an EKG.

AP-ES-09-29-04 2332EDT