Phillies bounce Reds, 12-2

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 14, 2003

CINCINNATI (AP)

-- Bobby Abreu hit a home run, and David Bell homered and had four RBIs in Philadelphia's 10-run eighth inning as the Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 12-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.

One night after a bench-clearing brawl led to five ejections, Reds starter Danny Graves hit Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal with a breaking ball to load the bases with two outs in the first inning. Lieberthal, who tackled Adam Dunn as he charged the mound to start the melee Friday, trotted to first base with a smile on his face. Despite three more hit batsmen, there were no hints of controversy Saturday.

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Randy Wolf (8-3), who has won his last three starts and five of his last six decisions, improved to 4-1 all-time against Cincinnati, including 2-0 this season.

One night after the Reds had 22 hits and 15 runs, Wolf limited the Reds to two hits and a run in seven innings. He allowed only Dunn to advance past second base while striking out seven and not walking a batter.

Rheal Cormier pitched a perfect eighth inning and Terry Adams gave up a run in the ninth. He allowed the Reds' first hit since Jason LaRue's double with two outs in the second.

The Reds (34-33) missed a chance to go three games over .500 for the first time this season and had their winning streak snapped at four games.

Dunn, who wasn't in the original starting lineup before replacing the injured Ken Griffey Jr., led off Cincinnati's first inning with his league-leading 22nd homer of the season and second leadoff homer of his career.

The Phillies took a 2-1 lead in the second when Jimmy Rollins scored on Wolf's double-play grounder. Abreu followed with his ninth homer of the season.

Those were the only two runs allowed in five innings by Graves (3-6), who was forced out of his last start after just three innings with a blister on his right middle finger. He gave up six hits while suffering his fourth loss in his last four starts. The Reds reported no problems with his finger.

The Phillies broke the game open while sending 13 batters to the plate during the eighth inning. Bell drove in four runs with a sacrifice fly and a three-run homer to match his career high for RBIs.

Notes:One day after they signed their top two draft picks, the Reds announced the signing of their fourth-round draft pick, Danville (Va.) high school outfielder Kenny Lewis … Griffey and Philadelphia's Marlon Byrd both were scheduled to start in center field before being scratched from the original starting lineups. Griffey had a stiff right groin that manager Bob Boone didn't want to risk after a pregame rainstorm. Byrd had weather-related problems getting back from his grandmother's funeral in Atlanta. He arrived in time to pinch-run in the eighth.