Phillies nip Reds, 3-2

Published 12:00 am Monday, March 10, 2003

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Pat Burrell homered and Marlon Byrd doubled home the winning run to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

The Phillies lost No. 5 starter Brandon Duckworth to an inflamed elbow and forearm.

Duckworth felt tightness in his right arm while pitching a scoreless first inning, then left after throwing three warm-up tosses before the second.

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''You have to be cautious when your arm tightens up on you,'' said Duckworth, who has pitched seven scoreless innings over three outings this spring. ''You have to think of tomorrow rather than be a hero and go on.''

The Phillies said it could take 48 hours to know the severity of the Duckworth's injury. If the injury is serious, Joe Roa or Hector Mercado are the top candidates to fill the spot.

''Anytime a pitcher grabs his arm, you're concerned, especially the way this kid's been pitching,'' Phillies manager Larry Bowa said of Duckworth. ''Brandon's been having a great spring. Hopefully nothing is wrong. We'll have to wait and see.''

Phillies reliever Turk Wendell, after missing the entire 2002 season following elbow surgery, made his spring debut by pitching a scoreless sixth inning, allowing only a one-out double to Jose Guillen.

''I think this was the final hurdle I had to cross to be a normal player again,'' said Wendell, who has appeared in 484 games since 1993.

The Reds built a 2-0 lead on solo homers in the third inning by Felipe Lopez and in the fourth by Wilton Guerrero. The Phillies cut the lead in half in the sixth when Burrell doubled in a run.

With Reds righthander Ricardo Aramboles (0-1) on the mound in the ninth, Burrell hit a leadoff homer to left to tie the game, his second of the spring. Chase Utley followed with a single, then scored from first on a one-out double to left by Byrd.

Jose Mesa (1-1) pitched a perfect ninth for the Phillies and was the winner.

Chris Reitsma, a candidate for the Reds' starting rotation, pitched four scoreless innings in his best outing of the spring. The righthander allowed one hit, struck out three and walked one.

''I needed this one,'' Reitsma said. ''Finally my body and arm were in sync.''

Notes: Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal, sidelined since March 1 with an abdominal strain, might play again on Thursday. … Reds pitcher Danny Graves will miss his next scheduled spring start with inflammation of the patella tendon in his right knee. Seth Etherton will start in his place. …Reds utility player Juan Castro, who was scheduled to start at second base, missed the game with swelling in his left knee.