Fri Apr 25 22:25:42 2008

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Coste's big game helps Phils edge Bucs

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Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Chris Coste went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in, and the Philadelphia Phillies avoided a collapse and held on for a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Jayson Werth was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored for the Phillies, winners in five of their last six. Rookie Brad Harman, making his first major league start, doubled, knocked in a run and scored a run -- all career firsts -- while Pat Burrell and Chase Utley each crossed the plate.

Harman got the start at second base after Utley was moved to first in place of the struggling Ryan Howard, who was not in the starting lineup for the second straight game.

Tom Gordon (2-2) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Brad Lidge hurled a perfect ninth innings for his sixth save. Starter Adam Eaton lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits.

Xavier Nady went 2-for-4 with three RBI for the Pirates, while Jason Bay clubbed a solo homer. Ryan Doumit doubled twice and scored twice, and Doug Mientkiewicz also drove in a run in the loss for Pittsburgh, which have lost their last two games.

Zach Duke (0-2) took the loss after being tagged for six runs on nine hits over six frames.

The Phils jumped on Duke in the first. Werth and Utley drew one-out walks and Duke then fanned Burrell, but Coste drilled a line drive into the left field power alley to plate both runners.

Werth tacked on another run with one out in the top of the third, crushing a Duke fastball into the right-centerfield seats. After Utley was retired, Burrell yanked a double into the left field corner, then Coste smashed a liner of the glove of Brian Bixler at short and into shallow center, allowing Burrell to race home for a 4-0 lead.

Philly continued to pile on in the fourth, as Eric Bruntlett led off with a single, then Harman laced a double into the gap in left, collecting his first big-league hit and RBI with one swing. Two outs later, Werth fought off a 3-2 pitch and dumped it into shallow left for a run-scoring single.

Bay's one-out solo shot to center pulled a run back for the Bucs in the bottom of the frame. Doubles from Doumit, Nady and Mientkiewicz brought two more runs in to cut the lead in half, and after Eaton walked Bixler, Chad Durbin came in from the bullpen to retire Duke and keep the Phils in front by three.

Pittsburgh continued to rally in the fifth, as Bay drew a two-out walk, then moved to third on Doumit's second double. Nady rapped a single just out of the reach of Bruntlett at short, and both runners came in to trim the gap to one.

The Pirates threatened in the eighth when pinch-hitter Jose Bautista worked a two-out walk off J.C. Romero, then Bixler beat out and infield single, but Romero got pinch-hitter Ronny Paulino to hit a weak grounder to short to escape the threat.

Lidge blew away the Pirates in the ninth, striking out McLouth and Bay on his way to the save.

Game Notes

Neither Romero or Lidge has allowed an earned run this season over a combined span of 22 1/3 innings...Werth has five homers for the season, four of them coming in the first five games of Philadelphia's current seven-game road trip...Eaton has not earned a decision in five starts this season...The Phillies are 4-1 on their current trip...Kyle Kendrick (1-2) starts for the Phils against veteran righty Matt Morris (0-3) in the middle game of the series Saturday.