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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Victorino injured in Phillies' win over Cubs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Philadelphia’s Brett Myers is congratulated by catcher Carlos Ruiz after closing out the Phillies’ 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

JERRY LAI | Associated Press

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Shane Victorino

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CHICAGO — The Philadelphia Phillies made a deal, got another win and were left wondering why they can't seem to stay healthy.

Cole Hamels pitched eight impressive innings, Tadahito Iguchi hit his first homer with Philadelphia and the Phillies beat Ted Lilly and the Chicago Cubs, 4-1, last night for their fourth straight win.

But Maui's Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn also departed with injuries for Philadelphia, which already has All-Star Chase Utley and five others on the disabled list.

"You ask yourself, 'When is it going to end?' " Aaron Rowand said. "We just have to keep our fingers crossed and pray that neither of them are out for an extended period of time. That puts a serious dent in what we're trying to accomplish when you lose two guys like that."

Victorino, a St. Anthony's High alum, strained his right calf trying to beat out a double play in the fourth inning and will have a precautionary MRI exam today. He said he felt it pop when he was running.

"I know Shane's hurting right now," Rowand said. "I think Shane's might be a little more serious than Mike's. Hopefully it's not as bad as it looks."

The Phillies had another scare in the fifth inning. Victorino's replacement, Michael Bourn, stumbled over the bullpen mound chasing Alfonso Soriano's foul ball. After laying on the ground for several minutes with the team trainer checking on him, he got up and stayed in the game, but was taken out in the seventh with a left ankle sprain. Bourn will gets X-rays today.

Rowand hit a three-run drive for the Phillies, who have won nine of 10.

The Phillies also made a move before the game to strengthen their pitching staff, acquiring Kyle Lohse from the Cincinnati Reds for a minor leaguer.

Hamels (12-5) allowed one run and three hits, struck out eight and walked two. The 23-year-old left-hander retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, and also set down his last nine batters.

Iguchi, who was acquired from the White Sox on Friday, led off the fifth inning with a homer on an 0-1 pitch from Lilly (11-5).

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Devil Rays 5, Blue Jays 4: Carl Crawford, who scored the tying run as a pinch runner in the ninth inning, led off the bottom of the 11th with a homer to give Tampa Bay a victory.

Crawford, who was out of the starting lineup for three games with a sprained right wrist, hit a 3-2 pitch from Brian Wolfe (2-1) over the fence in center field.

The All-Star outfielder tied the game at 4 on pinch-hitter Josh Wilson's two-out RBI single off Jeremy Accardo.

Twins 3, Royals 1: Scott Baker allowed two hits over eight innings and Joe Mauer drove in all the runs for host Minnesota.

Baker (5-4) faced one batter over the minimum and struck out seven. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save in 25 opportunities.

Gil Meche (7-8) allowed two runs over seven innings and had his four-game winning streak ended.

Mariners 2, Angels 0: Ichiro Suzuki had three hits, Miguel Batista allowed four singles in seven innings and host Seattle beat Los Angeles.

Suzuki scored and drove in the other run for the Mariners, who have won four straight and moved within three games of the division-leading Angels.

Batista (11-7) struck out two and walked none.

Tigers 5, Athletics 2: Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco both had three hits and an RBI as visiting Detroit snapped a four-game losing.

The Tigers' Jordan Tata allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings in his first major league start. Tata walked two and struck out five.

The victory gave Detroit a one-game lead over idle Cleveland in the AL Central.